Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs Lake Elsinore
April 20, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
The Grizzlies and Storm continue their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50 pm PT from Chukchansi Park. Grizzlies RHP Case Williams and Storm RHP Kobe Robinson are the probable starters.
LAKE ELSINORE STORMS INTO FRESNO: The Lake Elsinore Storm are in the midst of their first ever and only regular season trip to Chukchansi Park this week. Last season, the Grizzlies traveled to Lake Elsinore and took four of six from the Storm. Lake Elsinore joined the California League in 1994 and are one of four teams in the southern division. The Storm are affiliated with the San Diego Padres organization and have been since the start of the 2001 season. Prior to that, the team had ties with the California Angels from 1981-2000. Lake Elsinore has gone through a couple name and location changes in their club history. In 1979, they were known as the Santa Clara Padres. From 1980-85, they were named the Redwood Pioneers and from 1986-1993, they were the Palm Springs Angels. Since 2004, Lake Elsinore have been known as the Storm and have called their home at Lake Elsinore Diamond or just, The Diamond. It takes five hours and 23 minutes on average to drive from Chukchansi Park to The Diamond via car.
CLEAR WITH A CHANCE OF HOMERS: The Grizzlies are back home after a week away in San Jose. After splitting the six-game series against the Giants, Fresno looks to continue their offensive explosion in the friendly confines of Chukchansi Park. Over their first four home games to open the 2022 season, the Grizzlies blasted nine homers with three batters mashing two taters apiece. Fresno only smacked two longballs during the six-game roadtrip and are now in the middle of the league in total clouts (11).
DON'T RAIN ON MY WINNING PARADE: The Fresno Grizzlies enter their third series of the 2022 season with the best record in the California League (7-3). Despite a small sample size, the Grizzlies lead the league in batting average (.286), hits (100), fielding percentage (.969) and saves (4). Fresno ranks second overall in team ERA (4.14) and are among the upper half of the league in the majority of pitching categories.
CASE CLOSED: Tonight, the Grizzlies will hand the ball to righty Case Williams. The 20-year old is one of three 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.
LET'S GOOOOO: The Fresno Grizzlies brought back almost their entire field staff for the 2022 season. Manager Robinson Cancel will once again pilot the team after leading the Grizzlies to a league-best 74-41 record and earning a playoff spot in his inaugural season at the helm. Assuming the same roles in 2022 as well are Pitching Coach Mark Brewer, Hitting Coach Nic Wilson and Athletic Trainer Justin Wilson. Steve Soliz remains on the staff as well, moving from Development Supervisor to Bench Coach. Finally, Genevieve Payne rounds out the group as the Performance Coach. On the players side, 16 pitchers and 14 position players were assigned to Fresno. There are six returning players from the 2021 regular season championship squad and six of the Rockies top 30 prospects as listed by MLB.com will don the Grizzlies threads in 2022. The returning players include RHP Noah Gotsis, RHP Juan Mejia, RHP Case Williams, C Bryant Quijada, INF Warming Bernabel and INF Trevor Boone. The top prospects include #3 OF Benny Montgomery, #10 INF Adael Amador, #14 INF Warming Bernabel, #16 OF Yanquiel Fernandez, #20 C Hunter Goodman and #24 OF Juan Guerrero. There are also a few names that the Central Valley may recognize, outfielders EJ Andrews Jr and Braiden Ward. Andrews Jr. was a Fresno State Bulldog prior to being drafted by the Rockies last year and Ward is a product of El Capitan High School in Merced, one hour from Chukchansi Park.
COMEBACK CLAWS: On Sunday, the Grizzlies completed their second comeback win of the 2022 season. With two outs and two strikes in the 9th, Juan Brito dumped a shallow single into center, allowing two runs to score and giving the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead. That advantage would hold when Juan Mejia secured a game-ending double play, giving Fresno a series split in San Jose. The Grizzlies also enjoyed a comeback victory on April 8th (Opening Night) against the Stockton Ports. Zach Kokoska spanked the game-winning hit in the bottom half of the ninth.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (1-1), Beige (4-0), Black & Gold (0-0), Gray (2-2), Specialty Promo (0-0), Fresno Tacos (0-0), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 0-0), Fresno Growers (0-0), Fresno Tigers (0-0), Red Pants (0-0).
APRIL 21, 2022 VS. LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
RHP Jairo Iriarte (1-0, 0.00) vs LHP Evan Shawver (1-0, 0.00)
APRIL 22, 2022 VS. LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
RHP Garrett Hawkins (0-0, 2.16) vs RHP Brayan Castillo (0-0, 0.00)
APRIL 23, 2022 VS. LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
RHP Victor Lizarraga (0-0, 2.35) vs RHP Victor Juarez (0-0, 5.79)
APRIL 24, 2022 VS. LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 1:05 PM PT
LHP Jesus Gonzalez (0-0, 2.25) vs LHP Mason Green (0-0, 3.12)
California League Stories from April 20, 2022
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs Lake Elsinore - Fresno Grizzlies
- Giants Outlast Rawhide in Extras - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Fall in Series Opener, 8-3 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Ports Drop Series Opener, Streak Ends - Stockton Ports
- Giants Down Rawhide in 10 Innings - Visalia Rawhide
- Amador, Guerrero Pilot Grizzlies Through Storm 6-5 - Fresno Grizzlies
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