Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs San Jose
July 8, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
The Grizzlies/Lowriders de Fresno and Giants continue their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50 pm PT from Chukchansi Park. Grizzlies/Lowriders de Fresno RHP Brayan Castillo and Giants LHP Joe Kemlage are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
Tonight's Promotion:
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!
Upcoming Promotions:
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!
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.
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.
WE LIKE BIG W'S AND WE CAN NOT LIE..: The Grizzlies roared past the Giants 8-1 Thursday evening from Chukchansi Park. Coming off his first Pitcher of the Month honors, Grizzlies righty McCade Brown (2-3, win) dazzled for a career-high six innings, permitting one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six. After Brown departed, a trio of relievers kept up the success, hurling three scoreless frames. Sergio Sanchez, Ever Moya and Juan Mejia tossed one inning apiece with the latter wrapping up the contest. On the other side of the ball, the Fresno offense tallied 14 hits with five of them going for extra-bases. The top third of the Grizzlies lineup smacked eight of the 14 hits and ripped three of them for two or more bases. Leadoff batter Juan Brito supplied three hits, one for a double and scored two times. Benny Montgomery mashed a pair of hits, including a first frame RBI double. Yanquiel Fernandez notched a trio of hits in the three-hole. One of those hits left the yard, his 10th longball of the season. Fernandez finished his evening with two RBI and runs. Besides the top part of the order, five of the other six Fresno batters had at least one hit. Juan Guerrero extended his hit streak to 11 games after a single. Ben Sems belted a double and scored once. Bryant Quijada whacked a single and double, securing one RBI. Aiverson Rodriguez had a key RBI single and also raced home once. Finally, Yorvis Torrealba drove in a pair of runs with a single in the seventh.
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 an 11-game hitting streak, the longest span in his professional career as well. In that stretch, Guerrero is 21-for-48 (.438) 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.
BRINGING THE HEAT WITH CASTILLO: The Grizzlies hand the ball tonight to righty Brayan Castillo for the 14th time this year. Over his first two starts of the season, Castillo did not allow an earned run while fanning eight over 9.2 innings. In his outing on June 10th vs. Visalia, Castillo was nearly untouchable over a career-high six shutout innings, earning his first win of 2022. Castillo permitted one hit and walk while fanning six. He issued a one-out walk in the third and gave up an infield single in the sixth, both courtesy of GJ Hill. Castillo finished his evening after 69 pitches (51 strikes) while facing one batter over the minimum. The 21-year old Dominican native enters his fifth professional season with the Colorado Rockies organization. At instructional ball, Castillo showed a 93-97 MPH fastball, a slider that showed more depth than tilt and a changeup in the high-80s. Read more about the righty on Page 2 of the notes.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (12-12), 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).
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.
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 9, 2022 VS. SAN JOSE GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
RHP Eric Silva (2-5, 5.64) 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)
JULY 13, 2022 @ RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (LOS ANGELES DODGERS): LOANMART FIELD- 6:30 PM PT
RHP Case Williams (7-2, 4.38) vs. LHP Benony Robles (3-2, 6.60)
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
California League Stories from July 8, 2022
- Stockton Ports Host Inland Empire 66ers - Stockton Ports
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs San Jose - Fresno Grizzlies
- Ports Hold off Nuts for Second Straight Win - Stockton Ports
- Grizzlies Cruise Past Giants, 8-1 - San Jose Giants
- Two Home Runs Propel Rawhide over Storm - Visalia Rawhide
- Rawhide Two Home Runs Propel Rawhide over Storm - Visalia Rawhide
- Fernandez with Big Night in Rancho Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Brown, Grizzlies Bring Giants Down to Size With 8-1 Victory - Fresno Grizzlies
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