Grizzlies Begin Growlifornia Era with 2-1 Victory over Las Vegas
April 10, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
Fresno, Calif. - Three Fresno Grizzlies (1-0) pitchers combined to limit the Las Vegas 51s (0-1) to two hits in a 2-1 win on Opening Day at Chukchansi Park in front of 12,090 fans Thursday night. Third baseman Matt Dominguez (1-3, 2B, RBI) lined a frozen rope RBI double down the left field line in the seventh to plate the go-ahead and eventual winning run. The victory improves the Grizzlies Opening Day record to 8-10, while the attendance mark was their highest for a home opener since 2010.
It took the 51s until the sixth inning to notch their first hit when left-fielder Eric Campbell punched a single to center off right-handed reliever Jake Buchanan. Right-hander Brad Peacock, who was making a rehab start, allowed baserunners (five walks, one hit batter), but routinely escaped damage by not allowing a hit over 4.2 scoreless innings. Reliever Jordan Jankowski made his Triple-A debut and retired one batter to end the fifth, while Jake Buchanan finished out by allowing only one run on two hits over four innings to earn the win. It marked his first relief appearance at Triple-A since April 8, 2014 at New Orleans.
Catcher Max Stassi stated, "Those [pitchers] were phenomenal. That's everything you look for in a staff. They all pounded the zone and that was Peacock's first start since having [hip] surgery, so that was really exciting for him to get back out there and face some live competition. All those three guys did an outstanding job."
After Las Vegas tied the game at one in the top have of the seventh, the Grizzlies took advantage of reliever John Church (L, 0-1) back-to-back singles by Max Stassi (1-3, R) and Jon Singleton (2-3). The leadoff hits were enough to have 51s manager Wally Backman turn to right-hander Chase Bradford, but the move backfired as Fresno third baseman Matt Dominguez laced a go-ahead double down the line to score Stassi.
The two teams meet again Friday night at Chukchansi Park for game two of the four-game series. Fresno will wear Fresno State Bulldogs theme jerseys, while Las Vegas sports UNLV inspired digs for Tribute to Jerry Tarkanian Night. A silent auction will take place during the game along the first base concourse, with proceeds benefiting the Fresno State Armenian Studies Program. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with gates opening to the general public at 6:05 p.m.
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