Grizzlies Even Series with 9-5 Win Over Tower Buzzers
FRESNO, Calif. — Even with their bats rolling, the Ontario Tower Buzzers just couldn’t stop Fresno’s firepower on Wednesday night. They dropped this one, 9-5, at Chukchansi Park, tying up the six-game series at one apiece. Ontario out-hit the Grizzlies, 12 to 9, and made them shuffle through three pitchers.
FRESNO, Calif. — Even with their bats rolling, the Ontario Tower Buzzers just couldn’t stop Fresno’s firepower on Wednesday night. They dropped this one, 9-5, at Chukchansi Park, tying up the six-game series at one apiece.
Ontario out-hit the Grizzlies, 12 to 9, and made them shuffle through three pitchers. But Fresno had the pop when it counted. The Grizzlies smacked three homers and kept answering at the right moments.
The Buzzers came out swinging early. Conner O’Neal kicked things off in the second with an RBI double, Javier Herrera followed with a single to bring in another run, and a moment later Mairo Martinus swiped second at the same time Herrera stole home. Just like that, Ontario led 3-0.
But Fresno didn’t wait around. Wilder Dalis put them on the board with a solo shot in the second, and Roldy Brito tied it with an RBI triple in the third. Then came the big blow: Cameron Nelson launched a two-run homer in the fourth, and suddenly the Grizzlies were in front for good, 5-3.
Fresno just kept tacking on runs after that. Dalis knocked in another in the fifth, then Yeiker Reyes busted things open in the sixth with a two-run homer to make it 8-4. Ontario kept fighting at the plate but never got the big inning they needed.
O’Neal kept tearing it up, finishing 3-for-3 with a double, a solo homer, two RBIs, and a walk, reaching base every time up. Martinus chipped in with two hits, his ninth home run, and swiped two bags. Jaron Elkins stayed hot at the top of the lineup with three hits, pushing his average to .320, and both Easton Shelton and Joendry Vargas added singles as Ontario tallied a dozen hits for the second game in a row.
Fresno’s bullpen locked things down after starter Easton Marks exited early. Grif Hughes (1-0) picked up the win, giving up just two runs over 4.2 innings. Seth Clausen, the league’s saves leader, came on to get the final seven outs for his eighth save.
On the other side, Brady Smith (0-5) took the loss for Ontario, surrendering five runs in 3.2 innings. Luis Carias looked good in relief with six strikeouts across 3.1 innings, and Peter Bonilla plus Javier Bartolozzi mopped up the rest.
Even though the Buzzers rapped out more hits, they grounded into four double plays and stranded 10 baserunners. Meanwhile, Fresno made their hits count; three homers accounted for more than half their runs.
The series sits at 1-1 now, with Game 3 coming up Thursday night at Chukchansi Park. Ontario will try to bounce back and grab the series lead.
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Media Contacts:
Adam Serrano
Regional Marketing Director
Diamond Baseball Holdings
Jeff Woolson
Play-by-Play Broadcaster