Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Stockton
June 30, 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 McCade Brown and Ports RHP Dheygler Gimenez are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
Current Hit Streaks:
Warming Bernabel: +9, 15-39 (.385), 4 HR, 2 2B, 15 RBI, 11 R, 3 BB, HBP, 4 SB, 2 CS
Zach Kokoska: +7, 12-29 (.414), 3 HR, 3B, 2B, 7 RBI, 6 R, BB
Yanquiel Fernandez: +5, 12-23 (.522), 2 HR, 3B, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 10 R, 6 BB
Current Series:
Warming Bernabel: 5-11 (.455), 4 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB, SB
Zach Kokoska: 5-10 (.500), 2 HR, 3B, 5 RBI, 2 R, BB
Yanquiel Fernandez: 8-10 (.800), 2 HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 8 R, 3 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 13-6 win, the Grizzlies improved to 15-2 (+83 run differential, 148-65) against the Ports this year, 32-9 against Stockton over the past two seasons and 19-1 at Banner Island Ballpark (85-24 run differential this year). Fresno has mashed 43 homers over their 17 affairs against Stockton this season, with four contests of five taters or more. On the other side of the ball, the Grizzlies pitching staff has struck out 149 batters over the past 13 contests against the Ports.
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: The Grizzlies roared past the Ports 22-2 Tuesday 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. Fresno's 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.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: After scoring 22 runs on 20 hits with six homers Tuesday, the Grizzlies offense decided to add to their series totals with another double-digit effort yesterday. Fresno powered 13 runs on 16 hits with another six longballs. The 12 clouts over two contests are the most hit by the Grizzlies in a two-game span since July 17-18, 2017 at Las Vegas. For the second straight night, Warming Bernabel blasted a pair of two-run shots, giving him four in the series. Bernabel drove in five runs (10 total in series) for the second consecutive contest and scored three times, extending his hit streak to nine games. Yanquiel Fernandez, Zach Kokoska, EJ Andrews Jr. and Aiverson Rodriguez all chipped in with solo bombs to help the Grizzlies earn the win. Fernandez collected five hits, the most by a Fresno batter since Andrew Stevenson and Matt Reynolds on June 23, 2019 at Salt Lake. He scored four times and ended his evening a triple shy of the cycle for the second straight game. Kokoska lengthened his hit streak to seven games, joining Bernabel and Fernandez on going deep in back-to-back affairs. Andrews Jr. ripped three hits and drove in a pair of runs while Rodriguez notched his third round tripper of 2022.
HE'S JUST WARMING UP: Warming Bernabel is currently riding a nine-game hit streak. In that stretch, Bernabel is 15-for-39 (.385) with four homers, two doubles, 15 RBI, 11 runs, three walks, one HBP and four stolen bases. Over the past two games in Stockton, Bernabel has blasted four homers and drove in 10 RBI (two clouts and five RBI each contest). Prior to Bernabel, the last Grizzlies batter to have back-to-back two-homer games was JD Davis on August 16-17, 2018 at Tacoma. Also, the last time a Fresno batter had 10 total RBI's in back-to-back games was Tyler White vs. New Orleans in 2015. White had 6 RBI on August 17th and 4 RBI on August 18th.
TORRID START FOR TORREALBA: Grizzlies' newcomer Yorvis Torrealba is just the second Fresno batter in the Colorado Rockies era to have multi-hit games in his first two contests. The other was Isaac Collins last season. Collins did it in his first three games from May 6-8 at San Jose. On May 6th and 7th, Collins had two hits and then added three knocks on May 8th.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (10-11), Beige (7-3), Black & Gold (8-1), Gray (16-10), 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).
FROM HOOSIER TO BEAR: Tonight, the Grizzlies will hand the ball to Rockies #29 prospect McCade Brown, who will make his ninth start in a Fresno uniform. The 2021 3rd-round draft pick joined the Grizzlies rotation on May 2nd after spending the first month of 2022 down in the Rockies Arizona complex. Brown started his professional career last summer with the ACL Rockies (rookie ball), appearing in four games (three starts). He hurled eight innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) while striking out nine. Brown was selected by the Rockies in the 3rd round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Indiana University. He spent three years with the Hoosiers and anchored the rotation for the first time in his final season. Brown made 12 starts and had a 5-4 record with a 3.39 ERA. He was an important piece of an Indiana pitching staff that finished No. 3 in the country in ERA and now looks to continue his success with the Grizzlies. Read more about Brown 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.
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)
JULY 4, 2022 VS. SAN JOSE GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:35 PM PT
TBA vs RHP Jarrod Cande (3-1, 2.84)
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!
California League Stories from June 30, 2022
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Stockton - Fresno Grizzlies
- Fresno Grizzlies Preparing for Huge Independence Day Celebration - Fresno Grizzlies
- Grizzly Home Runs Sink Ports on Wednesday Night - Stockton Ports
- Grizzlies go deep six times again, cruise past Ports 13-6 - Fresno Grizzlies
- A 4-Run Comeback Gives Lake Elsinore Storm the Best Record in the California League - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Quakes Rip Rawhide on Wednesday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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