Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Inland Empire
Published on August 9, 2022 under California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
The Grizzlies and 66ers start a six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm PT from San Manuel Stadium. Grizzlies RHP Jordy Vargas and 66ers RHP Connor Van Scoyoc are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
INFO ABOUT INLAND EMPIRE: The Fresno Grizzlies and Inland Empire 66ers start a six-game series tonight at San Manuel Stadium. This is the only regular season matchup between the two clubs and the second meeting ever between the Grizzlies and 66ers. Last season, the squads split their six-game series in Inland Empire with Fresno winning the first three games. The 66ers are the current affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels and have been a part of the Angels system since 2011. Prior to teaming up with the Angels, the 66ers had ties to the Los Angeles Dodgers (1995-2000) and Seattle Mariners (1987-1994, 2001-2006) organizations. The 66ers are named after the historic U.S. Route 66 that runs through San Bernardino. Prior to the name change, the 66ers were known as the San Bernardino Stampede (1996-2002) and San Bernardino Spirit (1987-1995). The mascot for Inland Empire is Bernie, who is one of the only talking mascots in all of professional baseball. Bernie has been apart of the organization since 1999. The 66ers play at San Manuel Stadium and are owned by Elmore Sports Group.
SUNDAY SUCCESS AGAINST SAN JOSE: The Grizzlies clawed past the Giants 8-4 Sunday evening from Chukchansi Park. The Grizzlies comeback claws were on full display in the eighth inning for the second straight night. Fresno brought 11 batters to the plate, scoring six runs on three hits. This was Fresno's 13th comeback win in the seventh inning or later and sixth against San Jose in 2022 (five over the past 12 contests). The Grizzlies earned a series win over the Giants and improved to 36-18 at home overall.
DON'T POKE THE BEAR: The Grizzlies are first in all of Minor League Baseball with 100 hit-by-pitches (Modesto and Bowie, 93). They also rank second with 218 doubles (El Paso, 236), third with 678 runs, third with an .830 OPS, third with a .462 slugging percentage, tied for third with a .276 batting average, fourth with 1,632 total bases, fourth with a .368 OBP, fifth with 977 hits, sixth with 592 RBI, tied for sixth with 39 sacrifice flies and 14th with 151 stolen bases.
RECORD WATCH: A pair of Fresno Grizzlies are inching closer to joining the Top 10 in single-season franchise records. Fresno outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez currently has 28 doubles, three shy of joining the Top 10. Jack Mayfield (2018), Nate Schierholtz (2007) and Calvin Murray (1999) each recorded 31 doubles in their respected seasons. Fernandez also has five triples, two shy of joining the Top 10. Second baseman Juan Brito currently has six triples, one shy of joining the Top 10. Preston Tucker (2017), Nate Schierholtz (2007), Jason Ellison (2004) and Calvin Murray (1999) each registered seven triples in their respected years.
JORDY VARGAS MAKES HIS FRESNO DEBUT: Tonight's scheduled starter is 18-year old Jordy Vargas, who will be making his Fresno debut. Prior to his promotion, Vargas went 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA over seven games (five starts) with the ACL Rockies. He tossed 26.2 innings, not allowing a homer and had a 10:1 K/BB ratio (40/4). Vargas is listed as the Rockies #29 overall prospect after signing with the Rockies for $500,000 when the 2020-21 international signing period opened in January 2021. Vargas is the son of former big league reliever Yorkis Perez. He can already touch the mid-90s with his fastball, throwing it with good spin rates and resulting life. His curve has the chance to be a plus pitch, with outstanding downward action and spin. He is also working on a changeup that will come with time. You can read more about Vargas on Page 2.
JUAREZ WINS PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Fresno Grizzlies pitcher Victor Juarez was named by Minor League Baseball as the California League Pitcher of the Week for August 1 - 7. Juarez's impressive start on Thursday, August 4 versus San Jose helped the Grizzlies earn a crucial series win over the Giants. The Rockies #27 overall prospect was nearly untouchable over a career-high six scoreless innings, relishing his fifth win of the season. Juarez faced one over the minimum, allowing two hits and one walk while fanning seven. The righty's seven strikeouts also knotted a career-best. Of those seven strikeouts, six of them were swinging. The 19-year-old from Mexico becomes the second Grizzlies player (Hunter Goodman) and first pitcher to earn multiple California League weekly honors (May 16 - 22). Juarez is also one of seven 2022 Grizzlies players to be awarded a weekly honor (Adael Amador, Goodman (2), Mason Green, Yanquiel Fernandez, Brayan Castillo, Juan Brito). Fresno also swept California League monthly awards for June (Goodman and McCade Brown).
CONGRATS RODNEY LINARES: Former Fresno Grizzlies manager and current Tampa Bay Rays third base coach Rodney Linares will manage the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Linares was at the helm for the Grizzlies in 2018, leading the squad to an 82-57 record and earning a playoff berth. That mark is the second best winning percentage in Grizzlies franchise history, behind last year's team (74-41).
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (13-16), Beige (8-4), Black & Gold (11-2), Gray (19-17), Specialty Promo (1-2), Fresno Tacos (3-0), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 4-0), Fresno Growers (1-0), Fresno Tigers (0-1), Red Pants (2-2).
BUSTER BOBBLEHEAD: The Grizzlies announced earlier this month that the organization will honor Buster Posey's retirement from professional baseball with an exclusive bobblehead giveaway on Saturday, September 3. This giveaway, presented by Healthy Fresno County, will be the organization's fourth time producing a bobblehead for the San Francisco Giants legend and can be picked up by being one of the first 3,000 fans in attendance at the game. Prior to starting his illustrious Giants career, Buster Posey spent parts of two seasons in a Fresno Grizzlies uniform. Posey played 82 games with Fresno, batting .337 with a .535 slugging percentage and .956 OPS. He blasted 11 homers and drove in 54 runs over those 82 games before making the Bay Area his permanent home. Fans can purchase tickets to the September 3 game starting at $15 at FresnoGrizzlies.com, at the Chukchansi Park Ticket Office, or by calling the Grizzlies at 559-320-8497(TIXS). The team is also offering a limited number of Buster Posey Tribute ticket packages. Purchasing this bundle will guarantee a bobblehead and also includes tickets to two Friday Night Fireworks games and the Buster Posey Bobblehead Giveaway game (September 3) for only $37, a nod to Posey's .337 batting average with the Grizzlies. This special 3-game package can be purchased at FresnoGrizzlies.com/Offers.
NEW RULES IN 2022: Major League Baseball announced in March that experimental rules will expand in the California League for the 2022 season. The following rules include the return of the pitch clock and pickoff limits. Pitchers must deliver a pitch within 14 seconds with the bases empty and 18 seconds with runners on base. Hitters must be in the batter's box and be alert to the pitcher with nine seconds left. Pitchers will also be limited to two pickoff attempts or step-offs per plate appearance; any more without retiring the baserunner will effectively function as a balk. The league also added larger bases, increasing the size from 15 to 18 inches, a rule in place at Triple-A during the 2021 season. The increase is aimed to provide more room for players to operate around the bases, while modestly shrinking the distance between bases themselves. Additionally, the larger bases are composed of material that is expected to perform better in wetter conditions. Finally, teams must have a minimum of four defensive players on the infield when a pitch is delivered, with at least two infielders on either side of second base. The penalty for violation is an automatic ball, but if the hitter swings and gets a better outcome, the offensive team can take that. Goal is to increase batting average on balls in play.
PLAYOFF BOUND IN THE "GROWL"IFORNIA LEAGUE: For the second straight season, the Fresno Grizzlies are headed back to the playoffs after a 4-2 win over the Modesto Nuts on June 22nd from Chukchansi Park. Over those two years, Fresno has clinched both times against Modesto. The Grizzlies claimed the California League Northern Division and the best first half record among the eight teams (41-25). This is the first time in Grizzlies history that the team has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The last time Fresno baseball made it to the postseason in back-to-back years were the Fresno Cardinals in 1955-1956. With the California League being split into two halves, the Grizzlies will not know their playoff opponent until the second half ends on September 11th. If the Grizzlies were to also win the second half, the team with the next best record in the Northern Division will play Fresno in the playoffs. The first (Grizzlies, Northern and Lake Elsinore Storm, Southern) and second half (to be determined) division winners will meet in a best-of-three game series. The winners of those series will meet for a best-of-three championship series. Similar to 2021, each Monday will be a day off in the league except for July 4th. All but two series will be six-game series this season. The break for players and coaches will be four days long from July 18th to July 21st.
AUGUST 10, 2022 @ INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (LOS ANGELES ANGELS): SAN MANUEL STADIUM- 7:05 PM PT
RHP Cullen Kafka (4-3, 4.71) vs. LHP Joey Walsh (3-3, 4.80)
AUGUST 11, 2022 @ INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (LOS ANGELES ANGELS): SAN MANUEL STADIUM- 7:05 PM PT
RHP Brayan Castillo (1-4, 6.05) vs. RHP Fernando Guanare (3-3, 6.63)
AUGUST 12, 2022 @ INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (LOS ANGELES ANGELS): SAN MANUEL STADIUM- 7:05 PM PT
RHP Victor Juarez (5-4, 4.64) vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-4, 6.37)
AUGUST 13, 2022 @ INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (LOS ANGELES ANGELS): SAN MANUEL STADIUM- 7:05 PM PT
RHP McCade Brown (3-4, 5.20) vs. RHP Chase Chaney (3-4, 3.05)
Recent Transactions:
8/9: RHP Jordy Vargas: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
8/2: RHP Juan Mejia: Assigned to A+ Spokane from Fresno
8/2: RHP Case Williams: Assigned to A+ Spokane from Fresno
8/2: LHP Ryley Widell: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
8/2: RHP Francis Rivera: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
California League Stories from August 9, 2022
- Ports Call up 2022 Draft Pick Daniel Susac, Four Others - Stockton Ports
- 2022 Playoff Tickets Are Now Available - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Inland Empire - Fresno Grizzlies
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