Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs San Jose
July 7, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
GIANT AMOUNT OF MATCHUPS: The Fresno Grizzlies and San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants Single-A affiliate) continue their six-game series tonight at Chukchansi Park. This is the third series between the clubs in 2022 and the first meeting in Fresno. This season, the two clubs play 30 times against one another with 18 of those contests being held in San Jose. Last season, the two squads faced each other 33 total times with three of those games being held in the playoffs.
FROM FRIEND TO FOE: The San Jose Giants coaching staff have a few names that the Central Valley may recognize. Giants pitching coach Dan Runzler was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 9th round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft. He would play for the Grizzlies from 2009-2014, appearing in 144 games. Runzler would then end up pitching in the major leagues for parts of five seasons (Giants 2009-2012, Pirates 2017) before playing overseas and in independent ball. Over 97 big league games, he had a 4-2 record with a 3.89 ERA, 82 strikeouts. 46 walks and 72 hits allowed in 76.1 innings pitched. The other coach and former Grizzlies player fans may remember is Giants hitting coach Travis Ishikawa. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 21st round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Federal Way HS in Washington. Ishikawa would play eight Major League seasons starting in 2006 and ending in 2015 with time spent in San Francisco (2006, 2008-2010, 2014-2015), Milwaukee (2012), Baltimore (2013), New York AL (2013) and Pittsburgh (2014-15). Ishikawa would also don a Grizzlies uniform in 2008, 2011 and 2014, playing in 175 games. In 2008, Ishikawa would bat .310 with a 1.107 OPS over 48 games, one of the best stretches by any Fresno hitter.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT...: The Grizzlies roared past the Giants 13-2 Wednesday evening from Chukchansi Park. With the triumph, the Grizzlies ended their six-game skid to the Giants and their five-contest home losing streak. The 11-run margin is the biggest differential between the two clubs in 2022. Fresno righty Case Williams (7-2) dominated over six innings, tying the league-lead in wins. Williams allowed a pair of runs on two hits while fanning four. He did not issue a walk and tossed his seventh quality start of the year. Newcomer Angel Chivilli struck out three batters over two scoreless frames. He punched out the first hitter he faced in a Grizzlies uniform. Bryce McGowan wrapped up the contest with a clean ninth. On the other side of the ball, the Fresno offense clicked on all cylinders. The Grizzlies lineup pounded 13 runs on 16 hits and six walks. Of those 16 hits, three of them went for extra-bases. Fresh off the injured list, Benny Montgomery mashed a solo tater to deep center field, his third longball of the season. The Rockies #5 overall prospect scored twice and walked once. Yorvis Torrealba tallied the other two extra-base hits, both doubles. Torrealba had three total hits and raced home four times, tying a Fresno 2022 individual high. Adael Amador crossed the plate three times after two singles and a pair of walks. Both Braxton Fulford and Juan Guerrero continued their strong series, collecting four hits apiece. Fulford secured two RBI while Guerrero drove in a game-high four runs.
ZACH ATTACK: Grizzlies outfielder Zach Kokoska has been on a tear over the past few weeks. On June 14th, Kokoska was batting .192. Since then, he has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games, bumping his average to .250. Kokoska is currently riding a 12-game hitting streak, the longest span in his professional career. In that stretch, Kokoska is 20-for-53 (.377) with four homers, three doubles, one triple, eight RBI, 13 runs, two walks and one stolen base. Kokoska was selected in the 10th round of the 2021 draft out of Kansas State.
GUERRERO IS ON FIRE: Rockies #23 overall prospect Juan Guerrero has also been on fire over the past couple of weeks. Guerrero is currently riding a 10-game hitting streak, the longest span in his professional career as well. In that stretch, Guerrero is 20-for-43 (.465) with two homers, four doubles, 16 RBI, 11 runs, three walks, three stolen bases and one hit-by-pitch. Besides dominating at the plate, Guerrero has continued to show impressive plays on the defensive side of the ball.
FROM HOOSIER TO BEAR: Tonight, the Grizzlies will hand the ball to Rockies #29 prospect McCade Brown, who will make his 10th 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.
FLURRY OF ROSTER MOVES: The Grizzlies made a plethora of roster transactions over the past few days. Infielder Warming Bernabel, catcher/first baseman Hunter Goodman and left-handed pitcher Mason Green were all assigned to High-A Spokane. To counter the moves, Fresno added outfielder Benny Montgomery back from rehab and the injured list, utility man AJ Lewis from High-A Spokane and right-handed pitcher Angel Chivilli from ACL Rockies.
MAN, HUNTER IS GOOD: Former Fresno Grizzlies first baseman/catcher and Colorado Rockies #20 prospect Hunter Goodman was selected by Minor League Baseball as the California League Player of the Week for June 27 - July 3. Goodman's impressive series in Stockton helped the Grizzlies earn a series win over the Ports and improve to 22-2 at Banner Island Ballpark. During the week, Goodman went 10-for-24 (.417) with four homers, two doubles, eight RBI, seven runs, five walks and two hit-by-pitches over six games. Goodman picked up three multi-hit contests, which included a four-hit game on June 30. In that contest, Goodman homered twice, drove in a trio of runs and scored three times (all career-highs). On Saturday July 2, Goodman tallied the 100th homer hit by the Fresno offense in 2022. Prior to his promotion, Goodman ranked first in the California League in homers (22), total bases (167) and extra-base hits (40). Goodman was also second in RBI (68), second in slugging percentage (.592), second in OPS (.960) and tied for seventh in doubles (17). Of those mentioned stats, Goodman ranks third in all of Minor League Baseball in total bases and is fifth in both homers/RBI. The University of Memphis product is one of six Grizzlies player to earn California League Player or Pitcher of the Week honors this season and the first 2022 Fresno batter to win the award twice.
GRIZZLIES SWEEP MONTHLY AWARDS FOR JUNE: Two Fresno Grizzlies were awarded by Minor League Baseball for their outstanding performances in the month of June. First baseman/catcher and Colorado Rockies #20 prospect Hunter Goodman received California League Player of the Month, while right-handed pitcher and Rockies #29 prospect McCade Brown was named Pitcher of the Month. This is the first time the Grizzlies have swept monthly awards since becoming a Rockies affiliate. In the month of June, Hunter Goodman batted .330/.439/.660 and led the league in homers (eight), total bases (62), slugging percentage (.660) and OPS (1.099) while finishing fifth in runs (22). Goodman was recently promoted to High-A Spokane after winning Player of the Week for his efforts at Stockton. He went 10-for-24 (.417) with four homers, two doubles, eight RBI, seven runs, five walks and two hit-by-pitches over the series against the Ports. Goodman, 22 was selected by Colorado in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Memphis. On the other side, McCade Brown went 1-1 with a 2.39 ERA in five starts as he scattered 19 hits over 26.1 innings. He led the league with 39 strikeouts and held opponents to a league-best .194 average. Brown fanned eight or more batters in his last three June starts, including a season-high 10 on June 23 versus Modesto. On June 30 at Stockton, Brown allowed one hit over six shutout innings, earning his first win in a Grizzlies uniform. Brown, 21, was selected by Colorado in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Indiana University.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (11-12), Beige (7-3), Black & Gold (9-1), Gray (18-11), 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).
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 8, 2022 VS. SAN JOSE GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
LHP Joe Kemlage (0-0, 2.70) vs. RHP Brayan Castillo (1-4, 5.19)
JULY 9, 2022 VS. SAN JOSE GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
TBA vs. RHP Victor Juarez (4-2, 4.34)
JULY 10, 2022 VS. SAN JOSE GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 5:05 PM PT
RHP Nick Sinacola (5-5, 3.58) vs. RHP Cullen Kafka (3-1, 3.55)
JULY 12, 2022 @ RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (LOS ANGELES DODGERS): LOANMART FIELD- 11:00 AM PT
RHP Jarrod Cande (3-2, 2.93) vs. LHP Maddux Bruns (0-2, 5.16)
Recent Transactions:
7/6: OF Benny Montgomery: Returned from rehab assignment and reinstated from the IL
7/6: C AJ Lewis: Assigned to Fresno from A+ Spokane
7/6: RHP Angel Chivilli: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
7/6: LHP Mason Green: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno
7/6: C/1B Hunter Goodman: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno
7/1: INF Juan Brito: Activated off IL
Upcoming Promotions:
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
California League Stories from July 7, 2022
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs San Jose - Fresno Grizzlies
- Grizzlies Sweep California League Monthly Awards for June - Fresno Grizzlies
- Giants Suffer Lopsided Loss To Grizzlies - San Jose Giants
- Ports Collect 15 Hits, Edge Nuts in Extras - Stockton Ports
- Case Williams and Fresno offense lay down the law, gavel San Jose 13-2 - Fresno Grizzlies
- Rancho Blanked on Wednesday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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