Lyles, RedHawks Blasts Sink Loux, Grizzlies
May 25, 2011 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
FRESNO- In a battle between rising star Jordan Lyles and crafty veteran Shane Loux, it was the youngster who prevailed on a windy Wednesday night in downtown Fresno. The top prospect in the Houston Astros system baffled Fresno hitters over six scoreless innigns as Oklahoma City beat the Grizzlies, 5-1 at Chukchansi Park.
Lyles (3-3) allowed just four singles while walking one and striking out just one as well. The Grizzlies (21-26) got only one batter past first base, on Brad Eldred and Ryan Rohlinger's back-to-back two out singles in the fourth. But Lyles escaped the jam to keep the contest scoreless.
Loux (2-6) got some help from his defense in the fourth inning, as back-to-back singles by Tommy Manzela and Robinson Cancel put runners at the corners with one out. Coby Clemens then lofted a fly ball to medium-shallow left field, where Brandon Belt circled it, made the catch, and threw a strike to Chris Stewart in front of home plate, who applied the tag on Manzela trying to score, completing the 7-2 double play to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
However, with Brian Dopirak at first and one out in the top of the fifth, Drew Locke doubled down the right field line. The ball caromed off the tarp and right to Thomas Neal, who appeared to have time corral it quickly enough to keep Dopirak at third. But Neal threw behind the lead runner, trying unsuccessfully to get Locke at second, and Dopirak raced home with the game's first run.
Loux kept the game close until the sixth. With one out in the frame, Robinson Cancel hooked a ball from Loux into the first row of the left field bleachers down the line to make it 2-0. After a single by Koby Clemens, Loux got Brian Dopirak to fly out for the second out, but served up another longball, this one from Brandon Barnes, making it 4-0 RedHawks (21-25).
Neal atoned for his earlier mistake in the seventh, first saving a run, then scoring one in the bottom half. With Oswaldo Navarro at second and two outs in the top of the frame, Manzella singled to Neal in right. The outfielder charged the ball and came up throwing, gunning down Navarro at the plate with the Grizzlies' second outfield assist of the night. Then, with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the seventh, he tagged a ball over the left-center field wall to get the Grizzlies on the board at 4-1.
Barnes led off the top of the ninth with his second home run in as many at-bats, coming off Major League rehabber Santiago Casilla, to provide the final margin, 5-1.
These two teams will meet one last time for the 2011 season on Thursday night, as Grizzlies lefty Matt Yourkin (3-4) will try to help Fresno split the series, taking on righty Sergio Perez (3-2) at 7:05pm.
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