PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Express Motor Through Fresno for Sweep

Published on August 20, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


FRESNO- When a team is playing for something, like the first-place Express are, there is an added sense of urgency and importance to games in late August. Round Rock took that that energy into Fresno and used it to win four straight games from the Grizzlies, capping it off with a 12-1 triumph Friday night to complete a four-game sweep at Chukchansi Park.

It marked the first time the Grizzlies (54-73) have been swept four straight at home in nearly two full years, as they dropped four in a row against Tacoma August 22nd-25th, 2009. It is also the first time Fresno has dropped seven straight home games since doing so over a three-homestand span, June 26th-July 16th, 2007.

For the fourth consecutive game in this series Round Rock (76-51) got on the board first, scoring three times in the top of the second to take the early lead. That was all spot starter Geno Espineli (1-4) would allow in an otherwise solid 4.0 innings of work, but it would be more than enough for his counterpart, Round Rock starter Eric Hurley. Hurley (8-1) worked into the eighth inning, tossing a season high 124 pitches over 7.1 innings of work as he cruised to victory.

Fresno had a chance to get back in the game early, loading the bases with one out in the second inning. But Hurley got Tyler Graham to pop out and Major League rehabber Andres Torres to line to right to end the inning.

The score remained 3-0 until the sixth, when the wheels came off for the Fresno bullpen, which had previously been very good this series. Round Rock sent 12 men to the plate, scoring eight times. The outburst was capped by a Joey Butler grand slam off Marc Kroon, putting the Express ahead, 11-0.

The Grizzlies finally got on the board on a two-out, RBI double by Bill Hall in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Brandon Crawford, who had led off with a single. It was a small measure of redemption for Hall, who committed two of Fresno's three errors in the game, leading to seven of Round Rock's runs being unearned.

The Express added their final run in the top of the eighth on a Brad Nelson RBI-single. Nelson finished the four-game series 10-for-15 with four walks, two doubles, two home runs, seven runs scored and eight RBI.

Torres scored Fresno's only other run on a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the ninth. It was his lone hit in nine at-bats so far on his current rehab appearance.

Brad Eldred, the Grizzlies slugger, came on to pitch in the eighth inning, and delivered 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing two singles while striking out a pair without a walk. It was just the second pitching appearance of his 10-year professional career, the other coming at Triple-A Syracuse in 2009.

Fresno will travel to Las Vegas for a four-game set beginning Saturday night at 7:05pm. The Grizzlies will send right-hander Shane Loux (5-12) against 51s righty Chad Gaudin (1-0).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 20, 2011


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