Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga
July 15, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
This is the last series before the All Star Break. The Grizzlies return home July 22nd for Tacos Weekend.
The Grizzlies and Quakes continue their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm PT from LoanMart Field. Grizzlies RHP Brayan Castillo and Quakes RHP River Ryan are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GRIZZLIES HOME CLUBHOUSE MANAGER CONLIN MCGUIRE!
FIRST TRIP TO RANCHO: The Fresno Grizzlies and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers Single-A affiliate) continue their six-game series tonight 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.
OH THE PLACES YOU WILL GO: The Grizzlies have now played at least one game at 38 stadiums. They include: Albuquerque (2), Calgary, Colorado Springs, Edmonton, El Paso, Fresno (2), Inland Empire, Iowa, Lake Elsinore, Las Vegas (2), Lincoln, Memphis (2), Modesto, Nashville (2), New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Omaha (2), Portland, Rancho Cucamonga, Reno, Round Rock, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco (Pac Bell Park), San Jose, Stockton, Tacoma, Tucson, Vancouver, Visalia and Yuma. The Grizzlies played a few "home" games in San Francisco as Grizzlies Stadium, now Chukchansi Park was being completed in 2002. In 2004, Fresno played a "road" series in Yuma against Edmonton and one game in Lincoln against Omaha
ROARING AND SHAKING UP SINGLE-A: The Grizzlies and Quakes are ranked 1-2 in five different Single-A offensive categories. These categories include batting average, RBI, hit-by-pitches, slugging percentage and OPS. Fresno is ranked first with a .278 batting average (Rancho Cucamonga, .266), 80 hit-by-pitches (Rancho Cucamonga, 79), .464 slugging percentage (Rancho Cucamonga, .434) and an .829 OPS (Rancho Cucamonga, .816). On the other side, the Quakes are ranked first with 525 RBI (Grizzlies, 482).
DON'T POKE THE BEAR: The Grizzlies rank second in Minor League Baseball with a .278 batting average (El Paso, .290). They also rank second with 80 hit-by-pitches (Great Lakes, 84), third with a .464 slugging percentage, fourth with an .829 OPS, fourth with 811 hits, fifth with 1,352 total bases and eighth with 482 RBI.
BRINGING THE HEAT WITH CASTILLO: The Grizzlies hand the ball tonight to righty Brayan Castillo for the 15th time this year. Over his first two starts of the season, Castillo did not allow an earned run while fanning eight over 9.2 innings. In his outing on June 10th vs. Visalia, Castillo was nearly untouchable over a career-high six shutout innings, earning his first win of 2022. Castillo permitted one hit and walk while fanning six. He issued a one-out walk in the third and gave up an infield single in the sixth, both courtesy of GJ Hill. Castillo finished his evening after 69 pitches (51 strikes) while facing one batter over the minimum. The 21-year old Dominican native enters his fifth professional season with the Colorado Rockies organization. At instructional ball, Castillo showed a 93-97 MPH fastball, a slider that showed more depth than tilt and a changeup in the high-80s. Read more about the righty 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.
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.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (12-12), Beige (7-3), Black & Gold (9-1), Gray (19-13), 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).
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)
JULY 17, 2022 @ RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (LOS ANGELES DODGERS): LOANMART FIELD- 5:00 PM PT
RHP Cullen Kafka (3-1, 3.35) vs. LHP Maddux Bruns (0-2, 4.74)
JULY 18-21, 2022
All Star Break
JULY 22, 2022 VS. STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
TBA vs. TBA
Recent Transactions:
7/13: LHP Ever Moya: Placed on Suspended List (3 games)
7/13: RHP Juan Mejia: Placed on Suspended List (3 games)
7/13: LHP Gabriel Rodriguez: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
7/13: RHP Raymells Rosa: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
7/12: LHP Tanner Propst: Assigned to Fresno from High-A Spokane
7/12: RHP Tyler Ahearn: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno
Upcoming promotions:
7/22 (Friday, July 22nd) - Fresno Tacos & Friday Night Fireworks!
First Pitch: 6:50 pm vs. Stockton Ports
Promotion: Fresno Tacos Weekend, presented by Fresno / Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Team taking field in special Taco themed jerseys!
Promotion: Taco Trucks from all over the Valley!
Promotion: Friday Night Fireworks Presented by Toyota
Other Details: Taco Trucks, Splash Park, Bounce Houses & More!
7/23 (Saturday, July 23rd) - Fresno Tacos Weekend
First Pitch: 6:50 pm vs. Stockton Ports
Promotion: Fresno Tacos Weekend, presented by Fresno / Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Team taking field in special Taco themed jerseys!
Promotion: Taco Trucks from all over the Valley!
Other Details: Taco Trucks, Splash Park, Bounce Houses & More!
7/24 (Sunday, July 24th) - Fresno Tacos Weekend, Save Mart Sundays & Kids Run The Bases w/FREE Ice Cream from Producers Dairy!
First Pitch: 5:05 pm vs. Stockton Ports
Promotion: Fresno Tacos Weekend, presented by Fresno / Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Team taking field in special Taco themed jerseys!
Promotion: Taco Trucks from all over the Valley!
Promotion: Save Mart Sundays w/ Kids Run The Bases Post-Game w/FREE Ice Cream from Producers Dairy!
Promotion: Pre-Game Catch on the Field! Play catch on the field from 4:05pm - 4:35pm, on the right field line.
Other Details: Taco Trucks, Splash Park, Bounce Houses & More!
California League Stories from July 15, 2022
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga - Fresno Grizzlies
- Giants Win Wild 13-12, 12-Inning Marathon Over Rawhide - San Jose Giants
- Paulino's Home Run Helps Ports Win 4-2 over Inland Empire - Stockton Ports
- Guerrero, Grizzlies drop 8-2 contest to Quakes - Fresno Grizzlies
- Storm Win with Wil Myers and Jurickson Profar in Lineup - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Keith Shines in Rancho Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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