PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Bees Sting Grizzlies 2-1

Published on April 12, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


For the first time in four games to begin the 2016 season, the Fresno Grizzlies did not score first, and did not score in the top of the first inning in a 2-1 loss to the Salt Lake Bees on Tuesday evening. After Kaleb Cowart led off the home half of the second with a double, he scored on a two-out RBI knock by Kyle Kubitza to give the Bees a short-lived 1-0 lead.

A half-inning later Fresno tied it on a two-out Colin Moran RBI double to left-center, scoring Danny Worth after he reached on an error. Worth later singled in the fifth, to join Moran (2-for-4) as the only Grizzlies to hit safely in each of the first four games.

Salt Lake starter Nate Smith (ND, 1-0), who carried a 1.59 ERA into the game, scattered just five Fresno hits through five innings; his nine strikeouts were a career-high for the fourth-year pro. The lefty walked only two and hit a batter and the lone run he allowed was un-earned, lowering his ERA to 0.84. Reliever A.J. Achter (1-0) earned the win for the Bees, tossing a scoreless sixth and seventh, allowing just two hits.

The Bees broke the tie and pulled ahead for good 2-1 in the sixth, on a Cowart (3-for-4) RBI single off Mike Hauschild. Hauschild (0-1) matched Smith for most of the night, and took a tough-luck loss. In six innings he scattered seven hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Both runs Hauschild allowed were earned despite becoming the first Fresno starter to last into the sixth inning this season.

The Grizzlies struck out a season-high 15 times at the hands of Salt Lake pitching, while Fresno's pitching staff fanned seven. After a hot start to the game, the Grizzlies did not put a runner on after the sixth inning, and left a season-high 11 on base.

Leadoff man Tony Kemp (3-for-4) continues to be a huge bright spot for Fresno; the reigning PCL Playoffs MVP is now 7-for-9 in this series, and 9-for-16 (.563) on the young season, hitting safely in the last three games.

Bees closer Javy Guerra struck out the side in order in the ninth, all swinging, to convert the save. The final 10 Grizz hitters were retired in order by the Salt Lake bullpen, the last six by strikeout.

Game three of this four-game set is tomorrow at 5:35 Pacific Time (6:35 Mountain), with left-hander Tommy Shirley scheduled to make his season debut for Fresno. Salt Lake righty Yunesky Maya (1-0, 3.18) will make his second start for the Bees.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 12, 2016


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