PCL1 Fresno Grizzlies

Yourkin Sets Career Highs in Grizzlies' Win

Published on July 31, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


FRESNO- After filling in when the Grizzlies pitching staff needed help in 2010, Matt Yourkin was given his first chance to open a year as a member of a starting rotation this season. He has responded all season, and set new career highs in both wins and strikeouts on Saturday night as Fresno beat the Reno Aces, 7-4, at Chukchansi Park.

Yourkin (8-5) tossed a season-high 6.1 innings of work, striking out eight. The big lefty worked into the seventh inning for the first time this season after reaching exactly 6.0 innings on 14 previous occasions. He set a new career high with 112 strikeouts on the season, surpassing his total of 110 from last year in 12.0 less innings pitched.

The Grizzlies are just 3-6 in the season series against Reno, the Pacific North Division leaders, with all three wins coming courtesy of Yourkin.

Reno (63-44) scored first, plating a run in the top of the second on Evan Frey's two-out, RBI-single to right. But Frey rounded the bag too far and caused the runner ahead of him, former Grizzly Angel Berroa, to get caught between second and third, as he was eventually tagged out to end the inning.

Fresno (47-61) took no time in coming back against Reno starter Tom Layne, as Brad Eldred led off the bottom of the frame with a powerful drive to left center, off the very top right-hand corner of the videoboard, 40 feet in the air and over 400 feet from home plate. Conor Gillaspie followed with a single and was forced at second on Tyler Graham's attempted sacrifice. Graham got himself into scoring position on his 51st steal of the season, then scored on Hector Sanchez's RBI-double. After Nick Noonan walked and Matt Yourkin sacrificed the runners to second and third, Justin Christian tripled to the left-center field gap to score both, capping the four-run frame.

The Aces got back in the game with a two-out, three-run rally in the top of the fifth to tie the game. Tony Abreu doubled and Cole Gillespie singled him home to cut the margin to two runs. Konrad Schmidt followed with a high-arching shot into the bleachers in left to tie the game.

Again, though, the Grizzlies offense responded. Brett Pill opened the bottom of the inning with a double and Gillaspie walked one batter later to put two on with one out. Graham pulled a single through the left side of the infield to score Pill, with the runners moving to second and third on the throw back into the infield. Sanchez then delivered his second clutch hit of the night, scoring both runners to put Fresno back ahead at 7-4.

The Fresno bullpen took over from there, as Steve Edlefsen and Dan Otero shut the door. Otero logged the final three outs, fanning Frey to end the game for his sixth save.

These teams will meet again in the second game of the series and the 10th in Fresno's current 12-game homestand on Sunday night at 6:05pm. Grizzlies righty Andrew Kown (9-7) takes on Aces southpaw Zach Kroenke (7-2) at Chukchansi Park.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 31, 2011


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