PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Gonzalez Comes up Big Twice in 5-4 Victory

Published on August 1, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


FRESNO- It took until July, but Edgar Gonzalez finally found his power stroke. Of course, he can still hit for average, too. The infielder blasted a game-tying two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh, then won the game in the 11th inning with his third hit of the game, an RBI-single up the middle to score Justin Christian and give the Grizzlies a thrilling, 5-4 win over the Reno Aces at Chukchansi Park Sunday night.

Christian led off the frame with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Emmanuel Burriss, playing in his first game since being optioned back to Fresno (48-61) by San Francisco earlier in the week. That set the stage for Gonzalez, who worked a full count before ripping a ball past Aces reliever Jason Urquidez (3-5) into center field, with Christian racing around to score ahead of the throw home.

Ryan Langerhans had gotten Reno (63-46) off to a good start, taking a full count offering from Grizzlies starter Andrew Kown out the opposite way with one out in the top of the first, giving the Aces the early 1-0 lead.

Brett Pill responded in the bottom of the frame, as with one on and two outs he launched his 21st home run of the year, a line drive to the seats in left. That gave the slugger 89 RBI on the season, tying him for the league lead with Mike Jacobs and Cody Ransom.

For a while it looked like Langerhans might be the hero of the night. With two outs and a runner at second, in the fifth, the center fielder lined the first pitch he saw up the middle, plating Angel Berroa, to tie the game. He drove in all four Reno runs, including the final pair that the Aces would score with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh off Grizzlies reliever Waldis Joaquin. Langerhans punished a ball to right field over Justin Christian's head and the short wall for his second home run of the game, giving Reno a 4-2 lead at the time.

The Grizzlies again answered the second Langerhans blast with another one of their own, though. Christian singled with one out and was still at first with two away when Gonzalez turned around a 2-2 pitch from Kroenke, dumping it onto the lawn underneath the videoboard in left-center to tie the game at four. After hitting five home runs all season through the month of June, Gonzalez's blast Sunday night was his fifth of the month, putting him into double digits on the season.

Kown had his best start since the All-Star Break, allowing two runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings of work, walking just one while striking seven. The right-hander has collected 13 punchouts while walking just one over 12.0 innings his last two times on the mound.

Fresno came up with a big defensive play in the eighth inning to keep the score level. Dan Otero came out of the bullpen with runners at first and second and one out to face Konrad Schmidt. The catcher sawed his bat off on a bloop single to left, but Brad Eldred gathered the ball on one hop and fired a strike to Hector Sanchez at home plate, throwing out the baserunner Lucas May by 20 feet. Otero then struck out Frey to end the inning, stranding a pair.

Ronnie Ray (3-2) tossed a scoreless 10th and 11th to earn his second win in three days. The Grizzlies improved to 6-3 in extra-inning games on the season, as they have won their last five games that have gone past the ninth. The Grizzlies have not lost an extra-inning affair since May 28th at Colorado Springs.

Fresno will send righty Felix Romero (0-4) against Reno right-hander Gaby Hernandez (4-3) on Monday night at 7:05pm, as the Grizzlies look for their fourth straight win and third in a row against the Aces.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 1, 2011


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