PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Grizzlies End The Homestand On A Walk-Off Single

Published on May 28, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


Joe Sclafani of the Fresno Grizzlies Post-Celebration
Joe Sclafani of the Fresno Grizzlies Post-Celebration
(Fresno Grizzlies)

FRESNO, Calif. - In the 190th minute of the game on Thursday afternoon at Chukchansi Park, Fresno infielder Joe Sclafani ripped a liner into the right-center gap to score Alex Presley for the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th. The win helped the Fresno Grizzlies (27-20) secure a series split with the Memphis Redbirds (23-25) and lock down a 5-3 homestand. The walk-off win is the third for the Grizzlies at home this season, where they remain undefeated in extra inning contests (3-0).

Seven scoreless innings separated the winning run from the last time the Grizzlies had generated any offense. With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the third, catcher Tyler Heineman roped a go-ahead two-run double into the left-center field gap. The go-ahead hit was the second of the series for the 23-year-old catcher, who had put the Grizzlies up 3-1 with a two-run single in the 5-2 victory over Memphis on Tuesday. Since joining the team from Double-A Corpus Christi, the switch-hitting catcher is 8-17 (.471) with two doubles and four RBI.

Memphis tied the game in the sixth on two bunts that got the best of the Fresno infield. Reliever Mitch Lambson had no play on Cody Stanley's bunt single that scored Xavier Scruggs, while Rafael Ortega's perfectly placed sacrifice bunt scored Greg Garcia to tie the game at four. Both runs were charged to Fresno starter Brady Rodgers, while Lambson picked up a blown save.

Tyson Perez, Kevin Chapman, and Richard Rodriguez combined to toss 4.1 scoreless innings to keep Fresno in a position for the win. A big assist came in the eighth inning when L.J. Hoes caught a fly ball in right field and rifled it home in time to get Dan Johnson at the plate for the would-be go-ahead run.

After generating only two hits from the fourth-10th innings, the Grizzlies strung together three straight one-out singles to put home the winning run in the 11th. With the victory and a loss by Reno, the Grizzlies take a 5.0 game first place lead on their eight-game road trip that begins Friday night against the Oklahoma City Dodgers (32-14) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The series features No. 1 Prospect Carlos Correa (Fresno) and No. 2 Prospect Corey Seager (Oklahoma City).

The Fresno Grizzlies return home on Saturday, June 6th when they begin a four-game set against the Reno Aces. For information on tickets for the next homestand, contact the box office at 559.320.TIXS.

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Joe Sclafani of the Fresno Grizzlies Post-Celebration
Joe Sclafani of the Fresno Grizzlies Post-Celebration
   



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 28, 2015


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