PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Fresno Loses On A Game Ending Error For A Second Straight Night

Published on April 23, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - It may have seemed like déjà vu, but the Fresno Grizzlies (8-6) 3-2 walk-off loss to the Salt Lake Bees (4-10) Wednesday night at Smith's Ballpark was slightly different from last night's extra-inning affair. What stayed the same was Fresno tying the game in the ninth, but this time the Bees didn't wait until extra innings and secured the victory on a game-ending throwing error by second baseman Joe Sclafani in the bottom of the ninth.

Fresno struggled with runners in scoring position through the eighth inning of tonight's contest. They stranded runners in scoring position in the first, third, fourth, seventh and eighth innings before LJ Hoes plated a run on a RBI double in the ninth to make it 2-1. For the night, they left 13 runners on base and are now 5-for-27 (.185) with 23 left on base over the first two games of the series in Salt Lake.

Despite the struggle to drive in runs, Fresno tied the game at two in the top of the ninth on a single by Preston Tucker (18th RBI) that scored Alex Presley. Hoes, who was hustling from second on the hit, was tagged out a split second before putting his hand on home plate, leaving the game tied.

Left-hander Kevin Chapman (L, 1-2) came back for his second inning for the Grizzlies and allowed a leadoff ninth-inning single to Alfredo Marte. Alex Yarbrough sacrificed Marte over to second, but Roger Kieschnick struck out looking to give the Grizzlies hope for extra innings. However, Dan Robertson bounced an infield single up the middle that was corralled by a diving Sclafani, who then proceeded to skip a throw over to third base that got past Matt Duffy and allowed Alfredo Marte to jog home to plate the game-ending run.

Overshadowed in the loss were the performances by right-handed reliever Richard Rodriguez and outfielder LJ Hoes. Rodriguez entered the game in relief of Dan Straily (ND; 2 ER/4.0 IP) and tossed 3.0 scoreless one-hit innings. Hoes captured his third career five-hit game and first since June 21, 2011 with the Double-A Bowie Baysox as a member of the Baltimore Orioles organization. The five-hit game increased his average to .439 (18-41) on the season and extended his hitting streak to nine games.

Fresno will look to get back to their winning ways tomorrow night at 5:35 p.m. PT as righty Alex White (0-1, 9.72) faces left-hander Tyler DeLoach, who will be making his Triple-A debut. The game can be heard locally in Fresno on KYNO-AM 1430 or streamed online at KYNOFresno.com. After tomorrow and Friday night's game in Salt Lake, the Grizzlies will return home to Chukchansi Park to begin a four-game series with the Reno Aces on Saturday, April 25th.

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 23, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central