PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Grizzlies gain first lead in the seventh, but falter when New Orleans strikes for three in the eight

June 20, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


METAIRIE, La. - Reliever Dan Runzler had been rock solid all year long for the Fresno Grizzlies (37-38), but the New Orleans Zephyrs (40-34) found his kryptonite as they plated the tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth inning off the lefty in their 7-5 comeback victory Thursday night at Zephyr Field.

Fresno had taken their lone lead of the night with a three-run seventh to go up 5-4. Nick Noonan and Darren Ford hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning and pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa followed with a soft groundout that advanced them to second and third. With the Grizzlies threatening and the Zephyrs leading 4-2, reliever Sam Dyson (W; 1 ER/1.2 IP) entered and hit Gary Brown with a pitch to load the bases. Joe Panik followed through with a two-run double to left to tie the game at four and then Mark Minicozzi laced a go-ahead RBI line drive to center to score Brown.

Working with a one run cushion, reliever Adam Reifer (1 ER/1.0 IP) worked into his second inning and walked the leadoff batter. After a coaching visit to the mound, manager Bob Mariano decided to take the ball from Reifer and hand things over to Dan Runzler (L; 2 ER/0.2 IP), who hit the first batter he faced to put two runners on with nobody out. Gary Brown tracked down a sharp liner off the bat of Kyle Jensen to collect the first out, but Juan Diaz followed with a RBI line drive to right to tie the game at five.

Things didn't remain tied for long, as pinch-hitter Donovan Solano followed the game-tying hit with a go-ahead RBI groundout to make it 6-5 New Orleans. Back-to-back walks from Runzler loaded the bases and spelled the end of his night, while the Zephyrs grabbed an additional insurance run when Jorge Bucardo walked the first batter faced to plate Solano.

New Orleans closer Chaz Roe made quick work of the Grizzlies in the ninth by retiring the side in order to record his eighth save.

All four runs charged to Fresno starter Edwin Escobar (ND; 4 ER/6.0 IP) came off the bat of Kyle Jensen, who hit a first inning three-run homer and a sixth-inning solo home run. Escobar is 0-1 with a 7.31 ERA (13 ER/16.0 IP) and five home runs allowed over his last three starts.

Adam Duvall hit his 23rd home run on a 1-1 pitch from New Orleans starter Brad Hand (ND; 4 ER/6.1 IP) in the third inning. It gives him three homers in his last four games and leaves him 10 shy of Pedro Feliz (33 in 2000) for the Fresno Grizzlies single-season home run record.

Fresno looks to gain a series split tomorrow as they'll send left-hander Mike Kickham (5-5, 4.16) to the mound against righty Alex Sanabia (2-2, 5.63). Kickham gets the start off short rest to fill the void of Jason Berken, who has been placed on the disabled list. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. PT in New Orleans.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 20, 2014


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