CalL Fresno Grizzlies

Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at San Jose

Published on August 13, 2023 under California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


The Grizzlies and Giants conclude their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm PT from Excite Ballpark. Grizzlies RHP Jake Madden and Giants LHP Nomar Medina 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:

SATURDAY SETBACK: The Fresno Grizzlies (64-43, 28-13) suffered a 5-1 setback to the San Jose Giants (60-47, 20-21) Saturday evening from Excite Ballpark. The Grizzlies fell to 28-13 (.683) in the second half, 31-14 (.689) in their last 45 games and 41-17 (.707) in their last 58 contests. Fresno has lost five of their last six games overall and dropped the series to San Jose. It was the Grizzlies' first series defeat since May 29-June 4 at San Jose, spanning nine series. Fresno holds a four-game lead over the Modesto Nuts in the second half standings with 25 contests to go (12 vs. one another). The Grizzlies plated their lone run of the night just two batters into the game. Daniel Amaral spanked a leadoff single and swiped second to put himself into scoring position. Bryant Betancourt followed with a rocket single, adding Amaral. Fresno's offense fell flat after that, notching just three more singles. The Grizzlies last hit landed in the fourth and their final base runner came in the sixth. Betancourt secured another multi-hit contest and Skyler Messinger reached base three times. Righty Sergio Sanchez dazzled for two perfect frames, fanning three. In his last three outings, Sanchez is 1-0 with six scoreless innings and nine punchouts.

GIANT AMOUNT OF MATCHUPS: The Fresno Grizzlies and San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants Single-A affiliate) conclude their six-game series tonight at Excite Ballpark. This is the last of five regular season series between the clubs in 2023 and the final set in San Jose. Last season, the Grizzlies won 17 of the 30 meetings between the clubs and swept the Giants in the Divisional Series 2-0. Overall, Fresno is 46-40 (13-13 in 2023) in the regular season and 2-3 in the playoffs against San Jose since the Grizzlies joined the California League in 2021.

FROM FRIEND TO FOE: The San Jose Giants have a few names on their coaching staff that the Central Valley may recognize. Giants pitching coach Dan Runzler was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 9th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He played for the Grizzlies from 2009-14, appearing in 144 games. Runzler pitched in the majors for parts of five seasons (Giants 2009-12, Pirates 2017) before playing overseas and independent ball. Over 97 big league games, he logged a 4-2 record with a 3.89 ERA over 76.1 innings. Another staff member fans may remember is Giants hitting coach Travis Ishikawa. The Giants selected Ishikawa in the 21st round of the 2002 MLB Draft out of Federal Way HS in Washington. Ishikawa played eight MLB seasons starting in 2006 and ending in 2015 with time spent in San Francisco (2006, 2008-10, 2014-15), Milwaukee (2012), Baltimore (2013), New York AL (2013) and Pittsburgh (2014-15). Ishikawa wore a Grizzlies uniform in 2008, 2011 and 2014, playing in 175 games. The final coach fans may remember is Giants Fundamental Coach Ydwin Villegas. The always smiling infielder played for the Grizzlies from 2011-14, appearing in 95 games. Villegas batted .208 and had a .962 fielding percentage.

GRIZZLIES PLAYING MADDEN: Tonight, the Grizzlies hand the ball to righty Jake Madden, who was traded from the Angels to the Rockies on July 30, 2023. The 21-year-old is now ranked as the Rockies #23 overall prospect on MLB.com. You can read more about Madden on Page 2 of the Game Notes.

SINGLE-SEASON SAVES RECORD WATCH: Grizzlies closer Zach Agnos has a Minor League-leading 22 saves this season, putting him fifth all-time (passing Marc Kroon, 2011) in the franchise's Top 10 single-season saves. Up next for Agnos are Jeff Darwin (1998) and Manny Aybar (2002), who are tied for third with 24 saves.

SKIPPING ON WALKS: Grizzlies lefty Carson Skipper has appeared in 31 games this season, spanning 37.2 innings. In that stretch, he has issued three walks while striking out 50. Skipper has gone 17 straight outings (19.1 frames) without recording a walk (June 7 vs. Lake Elsinore).

BULLDOG RUNS AROUND THE BASES: Grizzlies' outfielder EJ Andrews Jr. had the biggest hit Tuesday night (August 8 at San Jose), a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the second frame. It was Andrews Jr.'s 10th clout of the year and Fresno's first inside-the-park wallop of 2023. The last Grizzlies inside-the-park round tripper came off the bat of Warming Bernabel on April 29, 2022 at Stockton in the third inning.

EJ AND THE SB: Grizzlies' outfielder EJ Andrews Jr. has stolen 11 bases this season, one in 11 different games. Fresno improved to 11-0 when Andrews Jr. swipes a base, with all 11 games ending within five runs.

CARDIAC BEARS: This season, 51 of the Grizzlies 107 games have ended in one or two-run affairs (48%). Fresno is 21-13 (16-6 at home) in one-run games and 11-6 (6-2 at home) in two-run contests. Overall, the Grizzlies are 32-19 in those games with a 22-8 record at home.

COMEBACK CLAWS: This season, the Grizzlies have scored 34% of their runs in innings 7-9 (206 runs of 599 total runs).

MAYBE WE DON'T WANT THE PITCH CLOCK: The Grizzlies are 20-9 this season when a game lasts longer than 2 hours and 40 minutes. Fresno is also 17-3 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 20 minutes).

QUICK GAMES FOR GRIZZLIES AND GIANTS: Last night's contest lasted 1 hour and 57 minutes, which is tied for the fourth fastest game by Fresno this season and their sixth under 2 hours (3-3 record). The Grizzlies and Giants have played three of those six sub-2 hour games, with two of them landing in this series. Fresno's two fastest games have been against San Jose (1 hour and 50 minutes on August 9 and 1 hour and 51 minutes on July 9).

WEAR THE BEAR: Beige (9-7), Red (25-14), Black & Gold (5-7), Gray (15-11), Fresno Tacos (1-2), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 2-1), Fresno Growers (1-0), Fresno Tigers (1-0), Specialty Promo (5-1), Red Pants (2-0).

Upcoming Probable Pitchers:

AUGUST 15, 2023 @ MODESTO NUTS (SEATTLE MARINERS): JOHN THURMAN FIELD - 7:05 PM PT

Fresno RHP Gabriel Barbosa (7-4, 4.81) vs. Modesto RHP Riley Davis (6-0, 3.61)

AUGUST 16, 2023 @ MODESTO NUTS (SEATTLE MARINERS): JOHN THURMAN FIELD - 7:05 PM PT

Fresno LHP Michael Prosecky (9-6, 3.06) vs. Modesto RHP Marcelo Perez (3-4, 3.45)

AUGUST 17, 2023 @ MODESTO NUTS (SEATTLE MARINERS): JOHN THURMAN FIELD - 7:05 PM PT

Fresno RHP Connor Staine (8-4, 4.98) vs. Modesto RHP Tyler Cleveland (11-5, 3.81)

AUGUST 18, 2023 @ MODESTO NUTS (SEATTLE MARINERS): JOHN THURMAN FIELD - 7:05 PM PT

Fresno LHP Caleb Franzen (3-4, 4.61) vs. Modesto RHP Darren Bowen (2-2, 3.94)

Transactions:

8/8: LHP Gabriel Rodriguez: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

8/8: INF Parker Kelly: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno

8/8: LHP Mason Albright: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno

8/1: RHP Jake Madden: Assigned to Fresno following trade with LAA

8/1: LHP Mason Albright: Assigned to Fresno following trade with LAA

8/1: RHP Anderson Pilar: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics

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California League Stories from August 13, 2023


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