Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga
July 16, 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 Victor Juarez and Quakes LHP Andrew Heaney (rehab) are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
WILD SLUGFEST ON FRIDAY: The Grizzlies dropped a 15-14 heartbreaker to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Friday night from LoanMart Field. Rancho Cucamonga ended the wild slugfest with a bases-loaded, two-out infield walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. The top two California League offensive clubs combined to score 29 runs on 36 hits, 12 walks and five errors. There were four lead changes with the walk-off being the difference maker. The Grizzlies scored in five straight innings, including five runs in the seventh and four runs in the fifth. The Quakes had an answer for the Fresno offense, countering with five matching or better frames, with a game-high six runs in the fifth. The Grizzlies lineup tied a season-high with 20 hits while every batter reached base at least once. Seven of the nine batters recorded at least one hit with six of the players notching multiple hits. Four batters tallied two or more RBI and scored multiple runs. Yanquiel Fernandez and Juan Brito achieved four hits apiece with Fernandez driving in four runs. Brito concluded his contest a homer shy of the cycle. He provided three RBI and two runs. Bryant Quijada smacked a career-high three hits with one of them leaving the park. It was Quijada's second longball of the year. Like Quijada, Adael Amador also had a trio of hits, three runs and a pair of RBI. Amador, Brito and Fernandez rocked back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles with two outs in the seventh. On the other side, the Quakes offense logged 15 runs on 16 hits and eight walks. All nine starters earned a hit with four batters attaining multiple rips. Jake Vogel led the charge with three singles and one double. He raced home twice and drove in one run. Damon Keith relished a bases-clearing double, which gave him three of his four total RBI. Austin Gauthier reached base four times and scored another three runs. Gaige Howard blasted his first wallop of 2022, a solo shot in the fourth. Finally, third baseman Luis Diaz clobbered three singles and had a game-best five RBI. Diaz enjoyed the walk-off infield single in the ninth, finalizing a perfect evening for him.
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.
ANDREW HEANEY: Tonight, the Grizzlies will face Dodgers rehabber Andrew Heaney. The lefty is currently on the injured list with a shoulder strain and is expected to go four innings this evening. Heaney enters his first season with the Dodgers and has pitched in parts of eight MLB seasons. The southpaw is a combined 32-38 with a 4.72 ERA (333 ER/634.1 IP) and 650 strikeouts. He has started in 112 of 121 big league games with the Marlins (2014), Angels (2015-2021) and Yankees (2021). Heaney was drafted in the 1st round (9th overall) by the Marlins in the 2012 MLB draft out of Oklahoma State. He made his debut in 2014 with the Marlins before being traded in the offseason to the Dodgers. He, Chris Hatcher, Austin Barnes and Kike Hernandez were exchanged for Dan Haren, Dee Gordon and Miguel Rojas. Five hours later, Heaney was shipped to the Angels for Howie Kendrick. Heaney had a strong career with the Angels, being named an Opening Day starter multiple times, which included the 2020 season. He was then dealt to the Yankees at the trade deadline in 2021 for Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero. He signed with the Dodgers at the end of the 2021 season.
TIME TO GET A VICTORY WITH VICTOR: Tonight's scheduled starter is righty Victor Juarez, a 19-year old from Mexico. Juarez is the youngest member of the 2022 Grizzlies roster and is ranked as the Rockies #27 overall prospect. Last season, he split time between DSL Colorado and ACL Rockies (both rookie ball). Juarez started the year with DSL Colorado, going 2-0 with a robust 0.68 ERA. That ERA was the second-best in DSL Rockies history behind Jeffri Ocando's mark (0.39) in 2016. That same year (2016), Juarez was playing for Team Mexico in the Little League World Series. You can read more about Juarez on Page 2.
ROARING AND SHAKING UP SINGLE-A: The Grizzlies and Quakes are ranked 1-2 in seven different Single-A offensive categories. These categories include batting average, hits, total bases, RBI, hit-by-pitches, slugging percentage and OPS. Fresno is ranked first with a .281 batting average (Rancho Cucamonga, .268), 831 hits (Rancho Cucamonga, 794), 1,381 total bases (Rancho Cucamonga, 1,292), 80 hit-by-pitches (Rancho Cucamonga, 79), .467 slugging percentage (Rancho Cucamonga, .435) and an .834 OPS (Rancho Cucamonga, .818). On the other side, the Quakes are ranked first with 540 RBI (Grizzlies, 495).
DON'T POKE THE BEAR: The Grizzlies rank second in all of Minor League Baseball with a .281 batting average (El Paso, .290). They also rank second with an .829 OPS (El Paso, .870), second with 80 hit-by-pitches (Great Lakes, 84), third with 180 doubles, third with a .467 slugging percentage, fourth with 564 runs, fourth with 831 hits, fourth with 1,381 total bases, fifth with a .367 OBP and sixth with 495 RBI.
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 (12-13), 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 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. RHP Case Williams (8-2, 4.50)
JULY 23, 2022 VS. STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
TBA vs. RHP McCade Brown (2-4, 4.75)
Recent Transactions:
7/16: LHP Ever Moya: Reinstated from Suspended List
7/16: RHP Juan Mejia: Reinstated from Suspended List
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 16, 2022
- 16-Hit Night Ties up the Series in San Jose - Visalia Rawhide
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga - Fresno Grizzlies
- Rawhide Erupt Late To Blowout Giants - San Jose Giants
- Fresno Falters Late, Rancho Cucamonga Walks-off 15-14 in Wild Slugfest - Fresno Grizzlies
- Wild Win for Rancho, 15-14 on Friday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Pitching Continues to Shine in 3-2 Win over Inland Empire - Stockton Ports
- Storm Powers Their Way to a Lopsided Victory over Modesto Nuts - Lake Elsinore Storm
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