PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Grizzlies end losing skid with comeback win, 5-4

Published on May 29, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


FRESNO, CA - The Grizzlies ended their four-game slide with a 5-4 win over the Tacoma Rainiers on Thursday night at Chukchansi Park. Scott McClain and Nate Schierholtz each drove in two runs in the game, as the Grizzlies erased a two-run deficit in the 6th inning, and scored the game-winning run in the 7th.

Having dropped four consecutive games, including a pair to Tacoma to open the series, the Fresno offense got started early on Thursday. With two outs and Brian Bocock on base after a bunt single, McClain doubled to center off of Rainiers' starter Robert Rohrbaugh to score the game's first run. Schierholtz followed with a single to left, scoring McClain, to give the Grizzlies an early 2-0 lead.

Through the first three innings of the game, Fresno starter Victor Santos held the Rainiers hitless. In the fourth though, with one out, Santos served up back-to-back home runs to Shawn Garrett and Victor Diaz that tied the game at two. After a two-out walk in the same inning, Prentice Redman and Oswaldo Navarro hit doubles in consecutive at-bats to score two more runs for a 4-2 Tacoma lead.

Santos lasted through six innings for the fourth time in his last five starts, striking out seven along the way, but did not factor into the final decision. Similarly, Tacoma's Rohrbaugh struck out eight over 6.0 innings, but also did not record a decision.

The Grizzlies battled back in the sixth inning when a single, an error, and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Schierholtz stepped to the plate and the first pitch from Rohrbaugh struck him in the helmet to force in a run. Brian Horwitz followed with a groundball to the right side of the infield to score Justin Leone and tie the game at 4-4.

In the 7th, Eugenio Velez walked to open the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice, and stole third base easily, allowing him to score the go-ahead run on McClain's two-out single to center, his third hit of the ballgame. Randy Messenger struck out two in 1.1 innings of relief to earn his second victory, while Julio Mateo's perfect ninth inning earned the former Rainier his third save in the 5-4 win.

The Grizzlies and Rainiers meet in the finale of their four-game series on Friday night at Chukchansi Park, with first pitch set for 7:05pm. Right-hander Nick Pereira takes the mound for Fresno looking for a split, while Tacoma right-hander Sean White gets the start for the visitors.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 29, 2008


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