Rivera reaches for the sky in 10-5 victory over Grizzlies

Published on June 23, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release

FRESNO, Calif. - The Sky Sox broke open a tie game with four runs in the 7th inning, cruising to a 10-5 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies Thursday night.

Colorado Springs first baseman Carlos Rivera went 5-5 including a ground-rule double in the 7th that drove in the go-ahead run and the Sky Sox never looked back. Catcher Miguel Ojeda went 2-3 with a two-run homer in the third inning.

The Grizzlies never led in the game, but came back to tie the game on three different occasions before falling behind late.

Trailing 3-1 in the fourth, Fresno (29-44) tied the game on second baseman Juan Melo's two-run blast to right field, his sixth home run of the season. Then down 5-3 in the sixth, the Grizzlies came right back again on catcher Justin Knoedler's RBI single that scored Chad Santos and Fred Lewis' triple two batters later tied the game at 5.

Reliever Merkin Valdez started the 7th inning with two straight walks before being replaced by Carlos Hines, leading to Rivera's ground-rule double to put the Sky Sox up. Hines then intentionally walked Luis Gonzalez, but threw a wild pitch in the next at-bat to score a run. Sean Barker grounded out to bring in another run and Josh Wilson finished the scoring with an RBI single that scored Gonzalez.

Valdez (0-2) suffered the loss after giving up three runs (two earned) in 1.0 plus innings of work. Colorado Springs reliever Justin Hampson (4-1) pitched up the win despite allowing two runs in two innings.

Fresno starter Matt Palmer made his Triple-A debut in the game and allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings for the no-decision.

The series continues Friday night at 7:05 with southpaw Michael Tejera taking the mound for the Grizzlies against Fresno native RHP Jon Asahina.

Pacific Coast League Stories from June 23, 2006

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• Rivera reaches for the sky in 10-5 victory over Grizzlies - Fresno Grizzlies
• Sidewinders erase seven-run deficit but fall to Las Vegas, 9-8 - Tucson Sidewinders
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