CalL Fresno Grizzlies

Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Inland Empire

Published on July 26, 2023 under California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


The Grizzlies and 66ers continue their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm PT from San Manuel Stadium. Grizzlies RHP Anderson Pilar and 66ers LHP Mason Albright are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes. The link below has everything needed for tonight.

To listen to tonight's game: https://www.milb.com/fresno/fans/audio-listen-live

Fres-Notes:

ABOUT OUR LAST GAME: The Fresno Grizzlies (55-36, 19-6) nipped the Inland Empire 66ers (49-39, 16-9) 3-1 Tuesday evening from San Manuel Stadium. Fresno improved to a Minor League-best 19-6 in the second half, 22-7 in their last 29 games and 32-10 in their last 42 contests. The Grizzlies moved to 14-5 in July, 35-6 when scoring first, 8-5 in two-run affairs and won their first game on the road when scoring three runs or less. Fresno has won the opening game of the series at San Manuel Stadium over the past three seasons and progressed to 5-2 against Inland Empire in 2023. The Grizzlies offense tallied 11 hits with eight of their nine batters reaching base successfully. Four starters notched multi-hit games with the top three of the lineup providing big nights. Leadoff hitter Dyan Jorge spanked two singles, stole a base and waltzed home once. Two-hole Jake Snider roped a triple and double, racing home both times. Three-hole Bryant Betancourt recorded all three RBI on a pair of singles. Two of Betancourt's RBI came in the third while his last knock occurred in the seventh. Fresno's pitching staff matched the offensive performance with a sensational contest. Southpaw Michael Prosecky (8-5) earned the win after five innings of one-run ball. Prosecky allowed four hits and a pair of walks while fanning a quartet of batters. Over three July starts, Prosecky is 3-0 with a 0.57 ERA. He has permitted one earned run over 15 and two-thirds frames during the month. Robinson Hernandez (hold, 1) tossed two scoreless innings in his 2023 Grizzlies debut. Hernandez returns to the team after an outstanding 2021 season. Carlos Torres (hold, 9) added a clean eighth and Zach Agnos chucked a shutout ninth. Agnos secured his Minor League-best 17th save of the year, putting him in a tie for ninth all-time in Grizzlies single-season saves (Manny Aybar, 2003).

INFO ABOUT INLAND EMPIRE: The Fresno Grizzlies and Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angeles Angels Single-A affiliate) continue their six-game series tonight at San Manuel Stadium. This is the last of two regular season series between the clubs in 2023 and the first meeting this year in San Bernardino. 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. They were also the former Fresno Giants/Fresno Cardinals franchise. 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.

BATTLE OF THE JULY HOME RUN KINGS: Grizzlies infielder Skyler Messinger and 66ers outfielder Jadiel Sanchez are tied for the California League lead in July home runs. Both players have smacked five clouts during the month and are amongst the league best offensively overall. Messinger is batting .313/.421/.688/1.109 over 17 games while Sanchez is hitting .357/.418/.657/1.075 over 18 games.

EJ AND THE SB: Grizzlies' outfielder EJ Andrews Jr. has stolen nine bases this season, one in nine different games. Fresno is 9-0 when Andrews Jr. swipes a base with all nine games ending within four runs. Four of those nine games have ended with one-run Fresno wins.

PILAR PITCHES: Tonight, the Grizzlies hand the ball to righty Anderson Pilar, who played for Fresno in 2021. The 25-year-old has a career 2.70 ERA over 283.2 innings (168 games, 11 starts) and is 7-1 all-time as a Fresno Grizzlies pitcher. You can read more about the Dominican native on Page 2 of the Game Notes.

BIG CROWDS FOR GRIZZLIES STARTERS: This season, Grizzlies starting pitchers have enjoyed big crowds in their outings. RHP Jordy Vargas (13 starts, 58,383), LHP Caleb Franzen (14 starts, 58,225) and RHP Connor Staine (14 starts, 48,837) rank 1-2-3 in the California League in highest total attendance during their starts. Vargas (13 starts, 4,491), Franzen (14 starts, 4,159) and Anderson Pilar (2 starts, 4,055) rank 2-3-4 in highest average attendance, all behind former Grizzlies starter Joe Musgrove (1 start, 5,738). Musgrove made a rehab start with Lake Elsinore. (Credit to Cory Schwartz from Major League Baseball).

SINGLE-SEASON SAVES RECORD WATCH: Grizzlies closer Zach Agnos has a Minor League-leading 17 saves this season, putting him in a tie for 9th all-time (Manny Aybar, 2003) in the franchise's Top 10 single-season saves. Next up for Agnos are Cory Bailey (1999) and Heath Hembree (2014), who are tied for seventh all-time with 18 saves.

SECOND HALF SUCCESS: The Grizzlies have the best record in the second half among all Minor League teams at 19-6 (.760). The Tennessee Smokies (Double-A, Chicago Cubs) have the next best winning percentage record at 16-6 (.727).

COMEBACK CLAWS: This season, the Grizzlies have scored 37% of their runs in innings 7-9 (194 runs of 522 total runs).

CARDIAC BEARS: This season, 44 of the Grizzlies 91 games have ended in one or two-run affairs (48%). Fresno is 19-12 (14-6 at home) in one-run games and 8-5 (5-2 at home) in two-run contests. Overall, the Grizzlies are 27-17 in those games with a 19-8 record at home.

MAYBE WE DON'T WANT THE PITCH CLOCK: The Grizzlies are 18-7 this season when a game lasts longer than 2 hours and 40 minutes. Fresno is also 17-2 when a game lasts longer than 2 hours and 46 minutes. The Grizzlies are 7-0 this season when a game lasts longer than 3 hours. What's funny, Fresno has the second fastest average home, 9-inning, time of game in all of baseball at 2 hours and 24 minutes (Down East Wood Ducks, Single-A, Texas Rangers, 2 hours and 21 minutes).

SUNDAYS AND SERIES: The Grizzlies 11-game Sunday win streak ended on July 23rd against Modesto in extras. The streak lasted from May 7-July 16. That was tied for the longest win streak on a certain day since 2022 where the Grizzlies won 11 straight Tuesday games from April 19-June 28 and ended the season at 17-3 on Tuesdays. Fresno also saw their streak of six straight series wins come to an end on July 23rd. The Grizzlies have not lost a series since May 29-June 4 at San Jose (seven series overall).

WEAR THE BEAR: Beige (8-7), Red (25-11), Black & Gold (3-6), Gray (10-8), Fresno Tacos (0-2), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 2-1), Fresno Growers (1-0), Fresno Tigers (1-0), Specialty Promo (4-1), Red Pants (2-0).

Upcoming Probable Pitchers:

JULY 27, 2023 @ INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (LOS ANGELES ANGELS): SAN MANUEL STADIUM - 6:35 PM PT

Fresno RHP Connor Staine (6-4, 5.23) vs. Inland Empire RHP Fernando Guanare (3-1, 4.03)

JULY 28, 2023 @ INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (LOS ANGELES ANGELS): SAN MANUEL STADIUM - 6:35 PM PT

Fresno LHP Caleb Franzen (2-3, 4.80) vs. Inland Empire LHP Leonard Garcia (3-3, 5.55)

JULY 29, 2023 @ INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (LOS ANGELES ANGELS): SAN MANUEL STADIUM - 6:35 PM PT

Fresno LHP Albert Pacheco (3-1, 4.26) vs. Inland Empire RHP Walbert Urena (2-3, 6.61)

JULY 30, 2023 @ INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (LOS ANGELES ANGELS): SAN MANUEL STADIUM - 5:35 PM PT

Fresno RHP Gabriel Barbosa (7-3, 4.91) vs. Inland Empire RHP Jake Madden (2-6, 5.46)

Transactions:

7/25: INF Jamari Baylor: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno

7/25: INF Luis Mendez: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/25: RHP Robinson Hernandez: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/20: RHP Connor Staine: Reinstated from IL

7/14: RHP Tyler Hoffman: Assigned to ACL Rockies from Fresno

7/14: RHP Brady Hill: Assigned to ACL Rockies from Fresno

7/14: RHP Wuardo Fernandez: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/14: RHP Jordy Vargas: Placed on IL

7/14: RHP Jackson Cox: Placed on IL

7/8: RHP Connor Staine: Placed on IL

7/8: RHP Anderson Pilar: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/6: RHP Javier Ramos: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/3: INF Dyan Jorge: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/3: INF Ryan Ritter: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno

7/3: LHP Felix Ramires: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics

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California League Stories from July 26, 2023


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