PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Grizzlies Win Eighth In A Row In Wild Fashion

Published on August 19, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Grizzlies (75-48) own the best record in the Pacific Coast League and are tied with fellow Astros affiliate Quad Cities (A) for the second most wins in all of Minor League Baseball. Two Fresno relievers played crucial roles on Tuesday night, with Jake Buchanan preserving a four-run lead in the fifth when he entered with the bases loaded, and Jordan Jankowski recording the final two outs of the game despite coming in with runners on second and third and the go-ahead run standing in the batters box. After three hours and forty-five minutes, the Grizzlies held on for a 14-12 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs (51-73) and secured their second consecutive series sweep. The club has won a season-high tying eight games in a row and are 16-1 in the month of August as they put their focus to the Round Rock Express, who they'll host Wednesday through Saturday at Chukchansi Park.

Tyler White continued to display his prowess for hitting with runners on base. The infielder recorded an RBI extra-base hit in each of his first three at bats, two of which came on two-strike counts. Over his last two games, he's 7-10 with three doubles, a triple, a homer, 10 RBI, and four runs scored. The effort tonight extended his current hitting streak to 10 games and gives him a hit in 32 of 38 Triple-A contests.

Tony Kemp was a spark plug for the offense tonight, recording a double, single, single, and triple in his first four plate appearances out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup. He scored a season-high four times and made a phenomenal running catch in the left field corner in the bottom of the first on a ball hit by Kila Ka'aihue. A one-out single by Kemp in the third ignited a seven-run inning that helped Fresno recapture the lead. In that inning, he scored on a double by Tyler White, while later in the frame Nolan Fontana lined a go-ahead two-out, two-run single into right. The go-ahead hit by Fontana was his second in three nights and gave him his 38th and 39th RBI of the season.

Fresno followed up the third with a five-run fourth that included a two-run triple by Tyler White, a sacrifice fly from Jon Singleton, and a two-run homer from Tyler Heineman (1), which was his first since August 23, 2014.

Andrew Aplin picked up three hits and had five for the series. His highlight came in the bottom of the third when he welcomed reliever Craig Stem to the game with a bases clearing triple off the Alaska Airlines wall sign in right.

Starter Mark Appel was charged for a season-high nine runs (six earned) over 4.2 IP. He appeared set to make it through five innings after getting Isaac Galloway to strike out swinging for the second out, but Austin Wates doubled, Donovan Solano singled, and Reid Brignac walked, prompting manager Tony DeFrancesco to come out and turn the game over to Jake Buchanan.

The potential PCL Championship Preview begins Wednesday night when first-place Round Rock, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, takes on the first-place Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, at Chukchansi Park. The Express send right-hander Anthony Ranaudo to the mound in the series opener to face Fresno righty Asher Wojciechowski. Gates the park open at 6:05 PM, with first pitch in Downtown Fresno set for 7:05 PM. Tickets are available and can be purchased at the Chukchansi Park Box Office beginning at 9 AM.

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 19, 2015


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