CalL Fresno Grizzlies

Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs San Jose

July 9, 2023 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


The Grizzlies and Giants conclude their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm PT from Chukchansi Park. Grizzlies RHP Jackson Cox and Giants LHP Hayden Wynja are the probable starters.

To listen to tonight's game: https://www.milb.com/fresno/fans/audio-listen-live or https://www.1430espnfresno.com/

Tonight's Promotion:

7/9 (Sunday, July 9th) - Save Mart Sundays & Kids Run The Bases w/FREE Ice Cream from Producers Dairy!!

First Pitch: 5:05pm

Opponent: San Jose Giants

Promotion: Pregame Catch on the Field! Come join us for some catch before the game starts- From 4:05pm to 4:35pm!

Promotion: Save Mart Sundays, EVERYONE runs the bases post-game w/FREE Ice Cream from Producers Dairy!

Other Details: Fresno Social Bar Open, Splash Park open, Water Slides, Bounce Houses, EVERYONE runs the bases post-game & More!

Fres-Notes:

GRIZZ ARE HOT: The Fresno Grizzlies (48-32, 12-2) blanked the San Jose Giants (44-36, 4-10) 8-0 Saturday night from Chukchansi Park, earning a series victory. With the triumph, the Grizzlies improved to 12-2 in the second half, 15-3 in their last 18 games and 25-6 in their last 31 contests. Fresno moved to 7-1 in July and have won six of their last seven versus San Jose. The Grizzlies enjoyed their fourth shutout win of 2023, their first since June 8. Three of the four Fresno shutouts have come on Saturdays. Grizzlies' starter Anderson Pilar was unstoppable in his first appearance with the club since 2021. Pilar (1-0, win) dazzled for a career-high five scoreless innings, tying his mark from his only other start with Fresno on August 8, 2021 at Visalia. The righty, who now is 7-0 all-time as a Grizzly, allowed three hits and a trio of walks while fanning six. Three relievers followed Pilar, adding another four strong frames. Braxton Hyde twirled two perfect innings, striking out three. Javier Ramos had a clean eighth in his Fresno debut and Tyler Hoffman punched out a pair in the ninth. The quartet of arms fanned 11 batters in the shutout. Skyler Messinger homered for the third straight game, tying the season record for the most contests with a bomb in a row by a 2023 Grizzlies batter. It was Messinger's fourth longball of the series and ninth clout of the year. Bryant Betancourt and Dyan Jorge had career-highs with three hits apiece while Jesus Bugarin drove in four RBI on three singles.

SUNDAY FUNDAY: The Grizzlies have won nine consecutive Sunday games dating back to April 30.

SECOND HALF SUCCESS: The Grizzlies are tied with the Hickory Crawdads (High-A Texas Rangers) for the best record in Minor League Baseball during the second half (12-2).

GIANT AMOUNT OF MATCHUPS: The Fresno Grizzlies and San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants Single-A affiliate) conclude their six-game series tonight at Chukchansi Park. This is the fourth of five series between the clubs in 2023 and the last set in Fresno. Last season, the Grizzlies won 17 of the 30 meetings between the clubs and swept the Giants in the Divisional Series 2-0. Overall, Fresno is 44-36 (11-9 in 2023) in the regular season and 2-3 in the playoffs against San Jose since the Grizzlies joined the California League in 2021.

FROM FRIEND TO FOE: The San Jose Giants have a few names on their coaching staff that the Central Valley may recognize. Giants pitching coach Dan Runzler was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 9th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He played for the Grizzlies from 2009-14, appearing in 144 games. Runzler pitched in the majors for parts of five seasons (Giants 2009-12, Pirates 2017) before playing overseas and independent ball. Over 97 big league games, he logged a 4-2 record with a 3.89 ERA over 76.1 innings. Another staff member fans may remember is Giants hitting coach Travis Ishikawa. The Giants selected Ishikawa in the 21st round of the 2002 MLB Draft out of Federal Way HS in Washington. Ishikawa played eight MLB seasons starting in 2006 and ending in 2015 with time spent in San Francisco (2006, 2008-10, 2014-15), Milwaukee (2012), Baltimore (2013), New York AL (2013) and Pittsburgh (2014-15). Ishikawa wore a Grizzlies uniform in 2008, 2011 and 2014, playing in 175 games. The final coach fans may remember is Giants Fundamental Coach Ydwin Villegas. The always smiling infielder played for the Grizzlies from 2011-14, appearing in 95 games. Villegas batted .208 and had a .962 fielding percentage.

DON'T MESS(INGER) WITH SKYLER: Grizzlies infielder Skyler Messinger has hit safely in seven straight games, the current longest streak by a Fresno batter. Messinger is 13-for-29 (.448) with four homers, four doubles, 12 RBI and six runs in the hit streak. He has gone deep in three consecutive games, tying Jesus Bugarin for the longest homer streak by a Grizzlies batter in 2023. Messinger has four longballs in the current series and nine wallops on the year.

EJ AND THE SB: Grizzlies outfielder EJ Andrews Jr. has stolen seven bases this season, one in seven different games. Fresno is 7-0 when Andrews Jr. swipes a base with all seven games ending within three runs. Four of those seven games have been one-run Fresno wins.

JACKSON COX GETS THE NOD: Tonight, the Grizzlies hand the ball to righty Jackson Cox. The 19-year-old is ranked as the Rockies #12 overall prospect on MLB.com after being selected in the 2nd round of the 2022 MLB draft. You can read more about the Toutle Lake HS product on Page 2 of the Game Notes and Page 22 of the Media Guide.

SINGLE-SEASON SAVES RECORD WATCH: Grizzlies closer Zach Agnos has a California League-leading 14 saves this season, one shy of joining the franchise's Top 10 in single-season saves. Jean Machi (2012) and Heath Hembree (2012) each recorded 15 saves that season for 10th all-time.

COMEBACK CLAWS: This season, the Grizzlies have scored 37% of their runs in innings 7-9 (177 runs of 473 total runs). The seventh inning has been the most productive for Fresno with 74 runs scoring.

CARDIAC BEARS: This season, 37 of the Grizzlies 80 games have ended in one or two-run affairs (46%). Fresno is 16-9 (11-4 at home) in one-run games and 7-5 (5-2 at home) in two-run contests. Overall, the Grizzlies are 23-14 in those games with a 16-6 record at home.

MAYBE WE DON'T WANT THE PITCH CLOCK: The Grizzlies are 16-4 this season when a game lasts longer than 2 hours and 40 minutes.

MLB ALL STAR WEEKEND: The MLB All Star Weekend continues tonight with the 2023 MLB Draft. The Rockies have the #9 overall pick. Yesterday, the 2023 Futures Game started the festivities at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Former Grizzlies outfielder and Rockies prospect Yanquiel Fernandez went 1-for-2 with a run and had an outstanding throw from right field to third at 103.3 MPH.

WEAR THE BEAR: Beige (8-5), Red (22-10), Black & Gold (3-5), Gray (9-8), Fresno Tacos (0-2), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 1-1), Fresno Growers (1-0), Fresno Tigers (1-0), Specialty Promo (3-1), Red Pants (2-0).

Upcoming Probable Pitchers:

JULY 14, 2023 @ LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): LAKE ELSINORE DIAMOND - 7:15 PM PT

Fresno TBD vs. Lake Elsinore TBD

JULY 15, 2023 @ LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): LAKE ELSINORE DIAMOND - 5:15 PM PT

Fresno TBD vs. Lake Elsinore TBD

JULY 16, 2023 @ LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): LAKE ELSINORE DIAMOND - 1:05 PM PT

Fresno TBD vs. Lake Elsinore TBD

Transactions:

7/8: RHP Connor Staine: Placed on IL

7/8: RHP Anderson Pilar: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/6: RHP Javier Ramos: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/3: INF Dyan Jorge: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies

7/3: INF Ryan Ritter: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno

7/3: LHP Felix Ramires: Assigned to High-A Spokane from Fresno

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics



California League Stories from July 9, 2023


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