Grizzlies Fall Short in Comeback Bid, Lose 4-3 to Memphis
Published on May 14, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
Memphis, Tenn. - The Fresno Grizzlies could not complete their fifth straight comeback victory in the series finale at AutoZone Park on Tuesday as they lost to the Memphis Redbirds 4-3. The defeat snapped the Grizzlies' four-game winning streak, but they still finished their eight-game road trip with a 5-3 record.
Entering the ninth inning trailing 4-2, the Grizzlies received three straight singles to lead off the frame that cut the Memphis advantage to 4-3. Jackson Williams, celebrating his 27th birthday on Tuesday, drove in Juan Perez to score Fresno's third run of the game.
With runners at first and second and no outs, pinch-hitter Tyler LaTorre struck out on a full count, preceding a Kensuke Tanaka force out that put runners at the corners. Gary Brown had an opportunity to keep the rally alive, but he took strike three on the outer portion of the plate on a full count to end the contest.
It was the second time this season the Grizzlies failed to complete a series sweep. Fresno lost the series finale at Reno on April 28 after taking the first three games of the series.
The Grizzlies scored first for the third straight game, but unlike the past two days, Fresno was unable to recover the game's lead. Chris Dominguez made it 1-0 in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Tanaka. It was Dominguez's eighth RBI of the road trip.
Memphis tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning before letting loose on Grizzlies starting pitcher Boof Bonser in the third. Three straight hits by Memphis, capped by a two-run home run by first baseman Brock Peterson, made it 4-1 Redbirds.
Bonser took the loss for Fresno after allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and one walk over six innings. He also struck out four.
Cole Gillespie hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to narrow the Memphis lead to 4-2. It was Gillespie's third home run of the season and also gave the Grizzlies a homer in each of the last six games.
Dan Runzler pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Grizzlies, but he faced a bit of trouble in his one inning of work. Back-to-back hits by Ryan Jackson and Peterson led off the inning while Justin Christian later walked with one out to load the bases. Runzler escaped the jam unscathed with a force out at home on Vance Albitz's ground ball to first baseman Johnny Monell and a fly out by Travis Tartamella.
Boone Whiting tallied the win in his first career Triple-A start. He allowed one run on three hits over five innings.
Victor Marte registered the save, his eighth of the season, after holding the Grizzlies to one run in the ninth.
Ryan Jackson led the Redbirds with three hits. Juan Perez, meanwhile, paced the Grizzlies with three hits as well.
The Grizzlies were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. They have just one hit with runners in scoring position over the last two games.
Fresno returns home to start a four-game series against the New Orleans Zephyrs on Thursday, May 16. First pitch is at 7:05 pm. Right-hander Justin Fitzgerald will make his second career Triple-A start for the Grizzlies - his first at Chukchansi Park - and face the Zephyrs' left-hander Brad Hand.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 14, 2013
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