Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Stockton
June 29, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
The Grizzlies and Ports continue their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm PT from Banner Island Ballpark. Grizzlies RHP Case Williams and Ports RHP Luke Anderson are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
Current Hit Streaks:
Warming Bernabel: +8, 12-34 (.353), 2 HR, 2 2B, 10 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB, HBP, 3 SB, 2 CS
Adael Amador: +7, 10-30 (.300), HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 9 R, 5 BB, 2 SB (tied for season-long)
Zach Kokoska: +6, 11-25 (.440), 2 HR, 3B, 2B, 6 RBI, 5 R (season-long)
Yanquiel Fernandez: +4, 7-17 (.412), HR, 3B, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 6 R, 6 BB
STOCK-PILING SOME FACTS: The Fresno Grizzlies and Stockton Ports (Athletics Single-A affiliate) continue their six-game series tonight at Banner Island Ballpark. This is the fourth series between the clubs in 2022 and the second meeting in Stockton. One name on Stockton's coaching staff that may seem familiar to Fresno fans is hitting coach Kevin Kouzmanoff, who played seven MLB seasons and played against Fresno from 2011-2014. The Ports are managed by Franklin Font, who was initially tabbed to be the assistant hitting coach. Font will continue his managerial career at the helm in Stockton, coming back to the states from France where he served as the manager for the Aigles of France in 2021, an independent team of the ESBL (European Super League of Professional Baseball). He was a part of the Chicago Cubs organization for over 10 years where he started as a development manager and minor league rover instructor in 2008 before being promoted to the major league staff as the assistant hitting coach in 2012 and ultimately a staff assistant from 2013-2020. Finally, Stockton broadcaster Alex Jensen coached Grizzlies righty Cullen Kafka when he played JV baseball at De La Salle High School.
STATEMENT AGAINST STOCKTON: The Grizzlies have found success against the Ports over the past two seasons. Thanks to yesterday's 22-2 win, With the rout, the Grizzlies improved to 14-2 (+76 run differential, 135-59) against the Ports this year, 31-9 against Stockton over the past two seasons and 18-1 at Banner Island Ballpark (72-18 run differential this year). Fresno has mashed 37 homers over their 16 affairs against Stockton this season, with three contests of five taters or more. On the other side of the ball, the Grizzlies pitching staff has struck out 138 batters over the past 12 contests against the Ports.
SERIES OPENERS SUCCESS: The Grizzlies improved to 12-1 in the first game of a series with a 5-1 mark on the road. The only loss Fresno has suffered in the first game of a series came on April 12 at San Jose, which means the Grizzlies have won 11 straight series openers. Fresno has outscored their opponents 98-55 over those 13 games.
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: The Grizzlies roared past the Ports 22-2 last night from Banner Island Ballpark. Fresno's 20-run margin of victory tied the franchise record that was initially set on June 30, 2016, against the Salt Lake Bees (23-3) at Smith's Ballpark. The 22 runs ranks third in Grizzlies history and the most scored by Fresno since they became a Rockies affiliate. The Grizzlies plated a franchise-best 24 runs on August 25, 2006 versus Sacramento.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT...: The Grizzlies offense supplied season-highs in runs (22), hits (20), homers (6), triples (1), extra-base hits (12) and total bases (45). All 10 batters who appeared for Fresno enjoyed at least one hit with nine of them scoring at least once. Every Grizzlies starter drove in one run with five separate hitters tallying multiple RBI. Fresno relished a run in six different innings, plating five in the fifth and eight in the eighth. Those two frames have been the highest scoring innings for the Grizzlies offense this year.
ROARING ON OFFENSE: Third baseman Warming Bernabel highlighted the Fresno offense last night with two homers, five RBI and four runs. All three statistics tied season-highs for a Grizzlies batter. Bernabel went deep in consecutive innings and was the middle part of back-to-back-to-back clouts with Yanquiel Fernandez and Hunter Goodman. The last time Fresno accomplished this feat was on June 10th, 2018 versus Oklahoma City. AJ Reed, J.D. Davis and Derek Fisher crushed taters off of righty Guillermo Moscoso. Fernandez concluded his evening a triple shy of the cycle, but added three walks and four runs to his line. Goodman raced home three times and notched two RBI. Zach Kokoska and Braxton Fulford whacked the other two wallops with Fulford's ending in a two-run shot. Kokoska provided nine total bases, finishing a double shy of the cycle. He smacked four hits and supplied a quartet of RBI. Juan Guerrero knocked in four runs and waltzed home three times to go along with his two hits. Adael Amador, Fernandez and Bernabel all had seven plate appearances in the nine-inning affair, the most since Alex Presley on June 2, 2015 at Oklahoma City.
BEAR WITH US ON THESE STATS: Both Aiverson Rodriguez and Yorvis Torrealba (Fresno debut) spanked two hits last night with one going for a double. Torrealba's the son of former Fresno Grizzlies & Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba. The elder Torrealba played with Fresno from 1998-99 & 2001. They became the first father/son duo to both play for the Grizzlies. Bryant Quijada came to the plate twice in the eighth with his first at-bat coming as a pinch-hitter. Later, Quijada would stride to the dish again, this time as an undefined position, an unusual circumstance in baseball. Grizzlies' righty Jarrod Cande (3-1) was awarded the decision after five innings of two-run ball. He struck out a career-high six before giving way to the bullpen. Cullen Kafka and Bryce McGowan wrapped up the contest with four scoreless frames. Kafka tossed three shutout innings, fanning four. Ports starter Yehizon Sanchez (1-4) agonized the defeat after four-plus rough frames of work.
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.
CASE CLOSED: Tonight, the Grizzlies will hand the ball to righty Case Williams. The 20-year old is one of the returning pitchers to the Fresno staff after joining the club in the back half of the 2021 season. Williams enters his third professional season with the Colorado Rockies organization despite starting last year in the Cincinnati Reds system. In 2021, he split the season between the Daytona Tortugas (Cincinnati Reds) and Grizzlies. Williams started 2021 in Daytona, appearing in 12 games, 11 for starts. He went 2-5 with a 5.74 ERA over 47 innings. Williams was traded back to the Colorado Rockies on July 28, 2021. The Reds received RHP Mychal Givens and the Rockies got Williams and RHP Noah Davis. He was assigned to Fresno and finished the season with the Grizzlies. Williams went 1-3 with a 5.72 ERA over seven games with six going for starts. In 28.1 frames, he fanned 17 batters and had a good overall second half of the season. Read more about Case Williams' bio on Page 2.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (10-11), Beige (7-3), Black & Gold (8-1), Gray (15-10), Specialty Promo (1-2), Fresno Tacos (0-0), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 0-0), Fresno Growers (1-0), Fresno Tigers (0-1), Red Pants (2-2).
JUNE 30, 2022 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 7:05 PM PT
RHP McCade Brown (0-3, 5.45) vs RHP Dheygler Gimenez (0-0, 6.00)
JULY 1, 2022 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 7:05 PM PT
RHP Brayan Castillo (1-3, 5.07) vs RHP Kyle Virbitsky (3-4, 5.94)
JULY 2, 2022 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 7:05 PM PT
RHP Victor Juarez (4-2, 4.30) vs RHP Mitch Myers (3-5, 4.73)
JULY 3, 2022 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 6:05 PM PT
LHP Mason Green (5-3, 3.01) vs RHP Grant Judkins (1-2, 6.06)
Recent Transactions:
6/28: OF Yorvis Torrealba: Assigned to Fresno from A+ Spokane (son of former Fresno Grizzlies and Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba...father played with Fresno from 1998-99 and 2001...would be the first father/son duo to both play for the Fresno Grizzlies)
6/28: RHP Blake Goldsberry: Assigned to A+ Spokane from Fresno
6/28: 1B/OF Trevor Boone: Assigned to A+ Spokane from Fresno
Upcoming Promotions:
7/4 (Monday, July 4th) *Fourth Of July Extravaganza- Watch Fireworks while sitting in the outfield grass!!*
Gate Times: ALL Gates - 5:05pm
First Pitch: 6:35pm
Opponent: San Jose Giants
Promotion: Fourth of July Celebration: Food Trucks, Specialty Cocktail, Water Slides, Bounce Houses, Splash Park, 4th of July Team Store Merchandise & More!
*Reminder- There is NO game on Tuesday for this homestand.
7/6 (Wednesday, July 6th)
First Pitch: 6:50pm
Opponent: San Jose Giants
Other Details: Splash Park, Bounce Houses, EVERYONE runs the bases post-game & More!
7/7 (Thursday, July 7th) Tioga Thursday's
First Pitch: 6:50pm
Opponent: San Jose Giants
Promotion: Two 19.2oz Tioga Beers for just $10!
Other Details: Splash Park, Bounce Houses, EVERYONE runs the bases post-game & More!
7/8 (Friday, July 8th)- Lowriders de Fresno, Copa de la Diversion & Fireworks!
First Pitch: 6:50pm
Opponent: San Jose Giants
Promotion: Low Riders Weekend, team taking field in special game-worn jerseys that can be found in team store! Post-Game Fireworks presented by Hertz Rent-A-Car.
Other Details: Splash Park open, Bounce Houses, EVERYONE runs the bases post-game & More!
7/9 (Saturday, July 9th)- Lowriders de Fresno, Copa de la Diversion
First Pitch: 6:50pm
Opponent: San Jose Giants
Promotion: Low Riders Weekend, team taking field in special game-worn jerseys that can be found in team store!
Other Details: Splash Park, Bounce Houses, EVERYONE runs the bases post-game & More!
7/10 (Sunday, July 10th)- Lowriders de Fresno, Copa de la Diversion, Save Mart Sundays & Kids Run The Bases w/FREE Ice Cream from Producers Dairy!
First Pitch: 5:05pm
Opponent: San Jose Giants
Promotion: Low Riders Weekend, team taking field in special game-worn jerseys that can be found in team store
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: Splash Park, Bounce Houses & More!
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California League Stories from June 29, 2022
- Missed Opportunities Late Sink Giants In 3-1 Loss - San Jose Giants
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Stockton - Fresno Grizzlies
- Slugfest in Stockton: Fresno Snaps Skid with 22-2 Rout at Banner Island Ballpark - Fresno Grizzlies
- Giants Fall 11-2, Win Streak Ends At 11 Games - San Jose Giants
- Grizzlies Race Past Ports as Skid Reaches Seven - Stockton Ports
- Rawhide Take Series-Opener - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- The Storm Keep the Good Times Rolling Versus 66ers - Lake Elsinore Storm
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