Lowriders de Fresno drive-off against San Jose 6-5 Friday

Fresno, CA (Friday, July 8) – In celebration of Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversion, the Grizzlies transformed into the Lowriders de Fresno for the weekend, starting with a drive-off win Friday night. The Lowriders (49-30, 8-5) fueled a comeback victory with a 9th inning single by Adael Amador, defeating the San Jose Giants (46-33, 6-7) 6-5. After witnessing the eighth comeback and fourth walk-off triumph of the season, the fans were rewarded with a fireworks show presented by Hertz.

San Jose grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first from a Grant McCray leadoff homer to center field. It was McCray’s 12th longball of the season. Fresno took a 2-1 advantage in the bottom half of the frame after a pickoff error and a Juan Brito RBI double. The Giants tied the affair at two when Hayden Cantrelle went deep to right field, his first bomb of the year. In the sixth, Riley Mahan pushed San Jose ahead 4-2 after a two-run double to right. Juan Guerrero cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth when he roped a double to center, plating Benny Montgomery.

The Giants extended the lead to 5-3 in the seventh after a deflected single by Aeverson Arteaga. Once again, the Lowriders chipped at the advantage with a Montgomery RBI single to center. In the eighth, Guerrero knotted the game at five with a booming blast to left field. It was Guerrero’s ninth clout of 2022. After San Jose went down quietly in the ninth, Fresno approached the plate looking to end the evening. A one-out walk to Yorvis Torrealba brought up Adael Amador. The Rockies #4 overall prospect swung at a 0-1 pitch and lined it to right field. The single dropped in front of Alexander Suarez, who came up throwing. Unfortunately for Suarez, the ball sailed high on him, going into the third base net, allowing for Yorvis Torrealba to scamper home with the winning run.

The wild finish gave Lowriders righty Tyler Ahearn (3-2) the win and Giants reliever Hunter Dula (2-3) the loss. Fresno starter Brayan Castillo tossed five and one-third frames of four-run ball. He struck out five and only issued one walk. Luis Amoroso (1.2 IP) and Felix Ramires (1.0 IP) both had solid appearances out of the bullpen for the Lowriders. On the other side, lefty Joe Kemlage fanned four in five innings for San Jose. The clubs are back to battle tomorrow night from Chukchansi Park.

Top Performers: Lowriders de Fresno (Colorado Rockies)

• LF Juan Guerrero (3-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)

• SS Adael Amador (1-4, BB, game-winning hit)

• CF Benny Montgomery (2-4, RBI, R)

• 2B Juan Brito (1-4, 2B, RBI)

Top Performers: San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants)

• 2B Hayden Cantrelle (1-3, HR, RBI, R, BB)

• CF Grant McCray (1-5, HR, RBI, R)

• 3B Riley Mahan (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB)

• LF Carter Williams (2-4, 2B, R)

On Deck:

Saturday, July 9 vs. San Jose Giants, San Jose RHP Eric Silva (2-5, 5.64) vs. Fresno RHP Victor Juarez (4-2, 4.34), 6:50 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTE:

Zach Kokoska saw his 12-game hitting streak come to an end after striking out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. Juan Guerrero lengthened his hit streak to 12 games after a three-hit evening. Guerrero has recorded multiple three-plus hit games in the series.