PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Grizzlies Stifled by Sacramento's Gray in 4-1 Loss

May 2, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


Fresno, Calif. - Back-to-back home runs by Sacramento's Shane Peterson and Michael Choice backed up a complete game from starting pitcher Sonny Gray to give the Fresno Grizzlies a 4-1 defeat on Wednesday at Chukchansi Park.

The Grizzlies went three-and-out seven times during the game as Gray held Fresno to four hits. The right-hander turned in a complete game, the first complete game thrown by an opposing pitcher against the Grizzlies since A.J. Griffin of Sacramento on June 13, 2012 at Chukchansi Park.

Peterson hit the first of the back-to-back home runs in the top of the seventh inning. It was one play after Grizzlies center fielder Gary Brown gunned down Conner Crumbliss at home on Daric Barton's single. Peterson's two-run blast gave the River Cats a 3-1 lead, while Choice's homer, hit well out of Chukchansi Park to left field, added an insurance run to the Sacramento advantage.

The River Cats seized the game's first lead in the second inning when Crumbliss hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to score Michael Taylor.

Gray retired the first 10 Grizzlies batters he faced until Kensuke Tanaka drew a walk with one out in the third inning. Two batters later, with runners at first and second and two outs, Brett Pill hit a groundball single past a diving Scott Moore into left field to score Tanaka and tie the game at 1-1.

Cole Gillespie followed Pill with a walk to load the bases, but Johnny Monell struck out looking to end the inning.

The Grizzlies threatened in the seventh when Pill hit a leadoff double and Gillespie placed an infield single to third base. Neither runner was cashed in, though, as Monell popped out to shortstop, and Juan Perez grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Pill finished the game with two of Fresno's four hits. He extended his hitting streak to a personal season-high 12 games.

Grizzlies starting pitcher Chris Heston suffered the defeat for Fresno after allowing three runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings. His outing was the longest by a Fresno starting pitcher this season.

Peterson's homer in the seventh chased Heston from the game as Ramon Ramirez was brought in. The right-handed reliever allowed the Choice home run, and finished the game throwing 2 1/3 innings with two strikeouts.

With the loss, the Grizzlies drop to one game back of the River Cats in the Pacific Southern Division.

The final game of the four-game series is set for Thursday at 7:05 pm. Right-hander Shane Loux of Fresno will oppose Sacramento southpaw Andrew Werner.

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 2, 2013


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