Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga
July 17, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
This is the last game before the All Star Break. The Grizzlies return home July 22nd for Tacos Weekend. Our promotions for Tacos Weekend are below.
The Grizzlies and Quakes conclude their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm PT from LoanMart Field. Grizzlies RHP Cullen Kafka and Quakes LHP Maddux Bruns are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
Yesterday, 2021 Fresno Grizzlies OF Zac Veen went 2-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases in the 2022 Futures Game
The MLB Draft is tonight, 4:00 pm PT on ESPN (first 80 picks will be made tonight). The Rockies have picks #10, #31, #38 and #50 tonight.
T-Mobile HR Derby is Monday at 5:00 pm PT on ESPN
92nd MLB All Star Game presented by Mastercard is Tuesday at 4:30 pm PT on FOX
FIRST TRIP TO RANCHO: The Fresno Grizzlies and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers Single-A affiliate) conclude 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 eight different Single-A offensive categories. These categories include batting average, hits, runs, total bases, RBI, hit-by-pitches, slugging percentage and OPS. Fresno is ranked first with a .280 batting average (Rancho Cucamonga, .267), 838 hits (Rancho Cucamonga, 801), 1,394 total bases (Rancho Cucamonga, 1,308), 81 hit-by-pitches (Rancho Cucamonga, 79), .466 slugging percentage (Rancho Cucamonga, .437) and an .833 OPS (Rancho Cucamonga, .820). On the other side, the Quakes are ranked first with 613 runs (Grizzlies, 569) and 550 RBI (Grizzlies, 499).
DON'T POKE THE BEAR: The Grizzlies rank second in all of Minor League Baseball with a .280 batting average (El Paso, .290). They also rank second with an .833 OPS (El Paso, .870), second with 81 hit-by-pitches (Great Lakes, 85), third with a .466 slugging percentage, tied for third with 569 runs, tied for third with 180 doubles, fourth with 838 hits, tied for fourth with a .367 OBP, fifth with 1,394 total bases and sixth with 499 RBI.
BRITO IS ON FIRE: Juan Brito is currently riding a personal season-long five-game hitting streak. Over those five games, Brito has enjoyed four multi-hit contests and has five extra-base rips. Brito is 12-for-22 (.545) with one homer (off of MLB rehabber Andrew Heaney), one triple, three doubles, seven RBI, nine runs, three walks and two stolen bags.
CULLEN KAFKA GETS THE NOD: Tonight, the Grizzlies give the ball to righty Cullen Kafka. Fresno is 10-1 when Kafka appears in a game this year. The Walnut Creek, California native makes his ninth start of the season and his 12th appearance overall. Kafka enters his second professional season with the Colorado Rockies organization. In 2021, he started his pro career with the ACL Rockies (rookie ball), appearing in four games, all out of the bullpen. Kafka hurled five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks while fanning five batters. He had a 0.60 WHIP and hitters batted .158 against the righty. Kafka was selected by the Rockies in the 9th round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft out of the University of Oregon, where he ended his Ducks career fifth all-time in starts (39) and seventh in strikeouts (195). Kafka finished his four-year career 13-11 with a 4.75 ERA in 50 appearances where opponents batted .288 in 204.2 innings pitched. Read more about Kafka on Page 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.
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.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (12-13), Beige (7-3), Black & Gold (9-1), Gray (19-14), 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 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)
JULY 24, 2022 VS. STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 5:05 PM PT
TBA vs. RHP Jarrod Cande (3-2, 3.30)
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 17, 2022
- Storm Lose Second Straight Before All-Star Break - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Offense Falls Flat in Saturday Night Loss to 66ers - Stockton Ports
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga - Fresno Grizzlies
- Dupere's Dazzling Debut Propels Giants To Walk-Off Win - San Jose Giants
- Offense Falls Flat in Saturday Night Loss to 66ers - Stockton Ports
- Grizzlies Lose to Quakes - Fresno Grizzlies
- Quakes Clinch Series-Win over Fresno - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
