Fresno Holds Off Late El Paso Rally To Secure Fourth-Straight Win
April 30, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
EL PASO, Texas - Five relievers combined to carry the Fresno Grizzlies (11-16) to a 6-5 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas (9-17) Wednesday afternoon in front of 8,181 fans at Southwest University Park. A four-run two-out rally in the fourth inning spotted the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead, but they needed two insurance runs in the ninth to extend their winning streak to four games. The win also clinches the first series victory for Fresno this season.
Gary Brown (2-4, 3 RBI) led the offensive charge for Fresno. He began the scoring in the fourth with a two-out two-run single to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead, and then added the sixth and final run with a RBI single to center in the ninth. The three RBI game gives him six total over his last two contests.
Fresno reliever Jake Dunning made his first start since May 18, 2011, and tossed 3.2 scoreless innings and struck out four. Erik Cordier relieved him and threw 2.1 scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the year.
The Chihuahuas got after the Grizzlies when Cordier was relieved for Mason Tobin (2 ER/0.2 IP) in the seventh, as they put across two two-out runs to cut the deficit to 4-2. Tyler Greene plated the first run with a double to left-center and then Jake Lemmerman scored on Tobin's wild pitch. Walks to Jeff Francoeur and Brooks Conrad loaded the bases, but manager Bob Mariano went to reliever George Kontos (1 ER/1.1 IP) who was able to strand all three runners by getting Travis Buck to ground out to first.
El Paso continued their comeback attempt with a run in the eighth. Kyle Blanks doubled on an infield fly ball when it landed safely due to miscommunication between second baseman Joe Panik and first baseman Chris Dominguez. One batter later, pinch-hitter Jason Lane hit a blooper into shallow right that clanked off Panik's glove for a RBI base hit. But Fresno reliever George Kontos honed in and struck out Adam Moore and Jake Lemmerman to end the inning and preserve a 4-3 lead.
Fresno pushed across two ninth-inning runs on a RBI groundout by Ydwin Villegas and the single to center by Gary Brown, giving them a three-run lead heading to the bottom half.
The insurance was needed as closer Heath Hembree (S; 2 ER/1.0 IP) had his nine-game scoreless streak end when he surrendered two runs on four hits, including a RBI single by pitcher Tony Sipp. However, the right-hander closed the door by getting Jason Lane to strikeout looking with two runners on to end the game.
The two teams meet tomorrow night at 5:35 p.m. PST as the Grizzlies look for their first sweep of the season. Right-hander Mitch Lively takes the ball for Fresno and will be opposed by righty Keyvius Sampson. The game can be heard on 1430 AM KYNO.
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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 30, 2014
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