Grizzlies Parent Club Takes on the Yankees in Tonight's AL Wild Card Game
October 6, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
Fresno Grizzlies with the Houston Astros
(Fresno Grizzlies)
FRESNO, Calif. - The Houston Astros, parent club to the Triple-A National Champion Fresno Grizzlies, play in the American League Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser tonight against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium at 5:08 PM PT. The one game winner-take-all is to be televised by ESPN and streamed online through WatchESPN. The Astros send left-hander Dallas Keuchel (KYK-ull) to the mound to face New York righty Masahiro Tanaka. Keuchel was the only 20-game winner in the American League this season and two of those victories came against the Yankees thanks to 16.0 scoreless innings.
Houston's wild card roster features six players that suited up for the Fresno Grizzlies this season. Those six are PCL MVP Matt Duffy, Jonathan Villar, Preston Tucker, AL Rookie of the Year Candidate Carlos Correa, Jake Marisnick, and Josh Fields, who all were contributors to the 84-win Grizzlies squad that clinched only their second postseason berth in 18 seasons and went on to win their first-ever Pacific Coast League Championship and Triple-A National Championship.
Duffy, 26, was named the 79th MVP in Pacific Coast League history on September 3rd, receiving more than half of the votes from the 16 field managers as well as media representatives across the league. He finished the 2015 season batting .294 (144-490) with 29 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 104 RBI, 48 walks, and 94 runs scored for Fresno. The 94 runs led the PCL, while the 104 RBI placed him second overall and were five shy of breaking the franchise record. The corner infielder led the team in 10 offensive categories and was a key component in the Pacific Conference Finals victory over El Paso to send the Grizzlies to the Pacific Coast League Championship.
Villar, 24, led the PCL in stolen bases (35) despite playing in only 70 total games due to time spent with the Astros. The infielder swiped 16 bases alone in the month of August, which made him the catalyst for helping the team establish a new franchise record for stolen bases in a single month (52 total).
Tucker, 25, began the year with the Grizzlies and put together one of the most historic months in franchise history by batting .329 (27-82) with two doubles, nine home runs, 29 RBI and a 1.054 OPS over 20 games in April. At the time of his promotion to the Astros on May 5th, the outfielder led all of Minor League Baseball in home runs (10) and RBI (32).
Correa, 21, was promoted to Triple-A Fresno on May 12th and appeared in 24 games before having his contract purchased by the Houston Astros. The Grizzlies, who were 16-15 and in second place at the time of Correa's Triple-A debut, went 16-8 with him on the roster to overtake first place and build a seven-game division lead.
Jake Marisnick and Josh Fields both joined the Grizzlies for rehabilitation stints. Marisnick spent three games with the club and was pivotal in a 9-5 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas on July 3rd by going 1-3 with a double, three RBI, two walks, three stolen bases, and two runs scored. Fields owned a 3.00 ERA (2 ER/6.0 IP) and recorded two holds over five outings in April before rejoining the Astros.
ASTROS TURNAROUND (courtesy of the Astros media relations department)
After finishing 70-92 in 2014, this year's Astros club finished with an 86-76 record, marking one of the most remarkable turnarounds in club history in what was manager AJ Hinch's first season at the helm. The 2015 season was marked by an exciting brand of baseball featuring home runs, aggressive baserunning and youthful enthusiasm displayed by one of the youngest everyday lineups in the Majors.
This season is the 11th time an Astros club has made the postseason and the first time since 2005. That club became the first Texas team to advance to the World Series after winning the NL Pennant over the St. Louis Cardinals in six games in the NLCS.
Images from this story
 Fresno Grizzlies with the Houston Astros |
Pacific Coast League Stories from October 6, 2015
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- Grizzlies Parent Club Takes on the Yankees in Tonight's AL Wild Card Game - Fresno Grizzlies
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