Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga
July 12, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
The Grizzlies and Quakes start a six-game series today. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am PT from LoanMart Field. Grizzlies RHP Jarrod Cande and Quakes LHP Maddux Bruns are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
LOWRIDERS DRIVE-OFF AGAIN: For the second time in three nights, the Lowriders de Fresno fueled a drive-off win, zooming past the San Jose Giants 3-2 Sunday evening from Chukchansi Park. The Lowriders enjoyed their fifth consecutive triumph and third straight comeback win against the Giants. This season, the squads have split their 18 matchups against each other. The clubs combined to score five runs (three earned) on 18 hits with only one going for extra-bases. San Jose grabbed an early 1-0 lead with a Victor Bericoto RBI single to right. The Giants would tally their second run on a wild pitch in the eighth. Fresno cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth when Benny Montgomery lined a single to left-center, notching Juan Brito. After a clean top of the ninth, the Lowriders looked for yet for another comeback win. Bryant Quijada started the frame with a double off the left-field wall, the only extra-base hit of the night. Then, a sacrifice bunt by Aiverson Rodriguez moved pinch-runner AJ Lewis over to third. Next, Yorvis Torrealba spanked a single to left, plating Lewis easily to tie the contest. Torrealba would then hustle to third on an EJ Andrews Jr. single to left, putting runners at the corners. Finally, up stepped Brito. The second baseman worked the count to 1-2 before trying to lay down a squeeze bunt. Brito pulled back on the pitch, which left Torrealba stuck halfway between third and home. After a throw from the catcher to the third baseman, Torrealba scampered back towards the plate and an errant toss allowed Torrealba to slide in safely with the winning run. With the wild finish, Tyler Ahearn (4-2) relished his second straight victory in similar fashion (6-5 drive-off on Friday). Matt Mikulski (2-3) suffered the loss after permitting all three runs by Fresno. Lowriders starter Cullen Kafka did not factor in the decision after five innings of one-run ball. He allowed six hits and struck out three. Fresno improved to 10-1 in games that Kafka appears in. Luis Amoroso added two scoreless innings of relief after Kafka departed.
FIRST TRIP TO RANCHO: The Fresno Grizzlies and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers Single-A affiliate) start a six-game series today at LoanMart Field. This is the second meeting between the clubs and the first ever matchup at Rancho Cucamonga. The Quakes started playing in Rancho Cucamonga in 1993 after relocating from San Bernardino. The team moved into the "Epicenter" on April 1, 1993. The Quakes played their first game at the stadium on April 8 against the High Desert Mavericks, winning 7-3. The Quakes continued to play their home games at the stadium, now renamed LoanMart Field. After being an affiliate of the San Diego Padres for the first eight years in Rancho Cucamonga, the team swapped affiliations with the Lake Elsinore Storm, beginning in the 2001 season. For the next 10 seasons, the Quakes were affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels. After that season, the Quakes once again changed affiliations, joining the Dodgers' system. They have been associated with the Dodgers since 2011, where many Dodgers stars go to rehab.
ROARING AND SHAKING UP SINGLE-A: The Grizzlies and Quakes are ranked 1-2 in six different Single-A offensive categories. These categories include batting average, hits, total bases, RBI, slugging percentage and OPS. Fresno is ranked first with a .277 batting average (Rancho Cucamonga, .265), 776 hits (Rancho Cucamonga, 751), 1,294 total bases (Rancho Cucamonga, 1,123) .462 slugging percentage (Rancho Cucamonga, .432) and an .826 OPS (Rancho Cucamonga, .811). On the other side, the Quakes are ranked first with 503 RBI (Grizzlies, 464).
THE CANDE MAN: Tonight's scheduled starter is righty Jarrod Cande, a 22-year old from Tampa, Florida. This is the seventh start and 11th appearance for Cande since he joined the Grizzlies on May 2. Cande was selected by the Rockies in the 17th round (500th overall pick) of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Florida Southern College (4-year private D-2 college). The righty was a two-way player in college, but has only pitched since turning professional. In his final season at Florida Southern College, Cande started eight games on the bump and appeared in the field nine times. He went 5-0 over 47.2 innings, striking out 39 batters. In 2020, Cande appeared in nine games as a hitter and four as a pitcher. As a hitter, he slashed .250/.368/.438 with one clout in 16 at-bats while as a pitcher, he made two starts and two relief appearances. Over 12.2 innings, Cande fanned 16 batters while recording a 6.39 ERA. Read more about Cande on Page 2.
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.
CARDIAC BEARS: The Grizzlies improved to 12-4 at home and 15-9 overall in one-run games after winning 3-2 last night against the San Jose Giants.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (12-12), Beige (7-3), Black & Gold (9-1), Gray (18-11), Specialty Promo (1-2), Fresno Tacos (0-0), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 3-0), Fresno Growers (1-0), Fresno Tigers (0-1), Red Pants (2-2).
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.
JULY 13, 2022 @ RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (LOS ANGELES DODGERS): LOANMART FIELD- 6:30 PM PT
RHP Case Williams (7-2, 4.38) vs. LHP Benony Robles (3-2, 6.60)
JULY 14, 2022 @ RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (LOS ANGELES DODGERS): LOANMART FIELD- 6:30 PM PT
RHP McCade Brown (2-3, 4.32) vs. RHP Jerming Rosario (2-6, 7.84)
JULY 15, 2022 @ RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (LOS ANGELES DODGERS): LOANMART FIELD- 6:30 PM PT
RHP Brayan Castillo (1-4, 5.32) vs. RHP River Ryan (1-2, 3.74)
JULY 16, 2022 @ RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (LOS ANGELES DODGERS): LOANMART FIELD- 6:30 PM PT
RHP Victor Juarez (4-2, 4.35) vs. RHP Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (1-2, 9.62)
Recent Transactions:
7/6: OF Benny Montgomery: Returned from rehab assignment and reinstated from the IL
7/6: C AJ Lewis: Assigned to Fresno from A+ Spokane
7/6: RHP Angel Chivilli: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
7/6: LHP Mason Green: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno
7/6: C/1B Hunter Goodman: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno
California League Stories from July 12, 2022
- Storm Drop Series Opener with Wil Myers at DH - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Grizzlies Drop Game to Quakes - Fresno Grizzlies
- Quakes Win Early-Morning Shoot-Out - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga - Fresno Grizzlies
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