Boone’s bomb inches Fresno closer to postseason, past Modesto 4-3

Fresno, CA (Tuesday, June 21) – The Fresno Grizzlies (40-24) crawled past the Modesto Nuts (29-35) 4-3 Tuesday night from Chukchansi Park. Fresno improved to 11-1 (7-0 at home) in the first game of a series and won their eighth straight contest at Chukchansi Park (season-long). The Grizzlies’ magic number now sits at one, which means that any combination of one Fresno win or San Jose Giants loss over the next two games will clinch a Northern Division crown and playoff berth for Fresno.

Modesto grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second when Ben Ramirez mashed a solo shot to right-center field. It was Ramirez’s seventh longball of the year. In the bottom half of the frame, Trevor Boone pushed Fresno in front with a three-run bomb to center field. It was Boone’s eighth big fly of 2022. The Grizzlies made it 4-1 in the third when Ben Sems lined a single to left, plating Warming Bernabel.

In the fourth, Ramirez drove in his second run of the game with a triple to right. Ramirez finished his evening by reaching base all four times with two via walks. Walking Cabrera concluded the scoring in the eighth after a double to left. The one-run advantage was enough for the Fresno bullpen to wrap up the contest.

Grizzlies starter Jarrod Cande (2-1) earned the triumph after a quick and efficient outing. Cande tossed five innings of two-run ball, allowing three hits and one walk while punching out five. Cullen Kafka picked up a hold in his first relief appearance of the season. Kafka hurled two shutout frames after coming off the injured list today. Juan Mejia tallied his sixth hold while Tyler Ahearn secured his fifth save of 2022.

On the other side, Nuts righty Jordan Jackson (3-6) suffered the loss after two innings of work. Three relievers followed Jackson, chucking six frames of one-run ball. The trio of arms fanned six batters in the losing effort. Both clubs are back in action tomorrow night from downtown Fresno.

Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)

• CF Trevor Boone (1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R)

• RHP Jarrod Cande (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)

• 2B Ben Sems (2-4, 2B, RBI)

Top Performers: Modesto Nuts (Seattle Mariners)

• 1B Ben Ramirez (2-2, HR, 3B, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB)

• RF Walking Cabrera (2-3, 2B, RBI, BB, CS)

• RHP Kelvin Nunez (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)

On Deck:

Wednesday, June 22 vs. Modesto Nuts, Modesto RHP Yeury Tatiz (3-1, 9.31) vs. Fresno RHP Case Williams (4-2, 4.02), 6:50 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTES:

The Grizzlies were hit by three pitches in the win (Braxton Fulford, twice and Hunter Goodman).

Fresno improved to 10-1 on Tuesdays (6-0 at home), 11-7 in one-run affairs (9-2 at home) and 7-0 at home in June.