PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

McAnulty's Late Blast Beats Fresno

Published on July 29, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


FRESNO- Paul McAnulty was the only Salt Lake Bee who could do anything against the Fresno pitching staff Thursday night. His one-man show was enough for the visitors, though, as his solo shot in the top of the ninth was the only run of the night in a 1-0 Grizzlies loss at Chukchansi Park.

With a pair of pitchers who started the year in their respective big league club's bullpens on the mound in Trevor Bell and Dan Runzler, the game figured to be decided by the bullpens, as both would be on pitch counts. That turned out to be the case, as neither team would score until McAnulty's blast with two outs in the ninth.

Runzler threw as well as he has all season in a Grizzlies uniform, allowing just two singles and a walk over 5.0 scoreless frames, striking out a season-high nine. After struggling with some control issues in his first few outings for the Grizzlies (45-61), Runzler finished July with 30 strikeouts against just seven walks in 18.0 innings for the month.

Felix Romero pitched in with 3.2 innings of brilliant relief, allowing just a pair of singles without a walk while striking out two. However, he was lifted with two outs in the ninth as McAnulty, who had singled twice and walked in his first three at-bats, came to the plate. Manager Steve Decker seemed to take his time in going to reliever Justin Dowdy, but eventually made the move. McAnulty took a 2-0 delivery from Dowdy just over the right-center field wall for a solo shot, his ninth of the year.

Bees (47-59) closer Michael Kohn walked Max Ramirez on four pitches to open the bottom of the ninth, but after Mark DeRosa's sacrifice, he struck out Conor Gillaspie and Hector Sanchez to end the game.

Bell wasn't nearly as sharp, but was able to scatter five hits and two walks over 3.1 innings of work to keep Fresno off the board. Salt Lake got 4.2 innings of two-hit, shutout ball from starter-turned-reliever Ryan Ketchner, who would pick up the win in relief.

Fresno got a two-out, bloop single from DeRosa in the bottom of the sixth to bring up Gillaspie, who had singled and doubled in his first two at-bats. The infielder drove a ball deep all the way to the wall in right-center field, but Alexi Amarista made a leaping catch as he crashed into the wall, saving an extra-base hit and a certain run.

Playing in the hitter-happy Pacific Coast League, the Grizzlies had not gone past the fourth inning without either team scoring in a game all season long. The Grizzlies were shut out for the fifth time this season and the third time at Chukchansi Park.

The fourth and final game of the series will take place Friday night at 7:05pm as Fresno righty Shane Loux (5-10) takes on Salt Lake righty Jerome Williams (5-1) with the Grizzlies looking for the split.

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 29, 2011


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