Chihuahuas ruffed up by Rodgers in 5-1 Grizzlies win

Behind a superb outing from Brady Rodgers (3-3), the Fresno Grizzlies (79-56) beat the El Paso Chihuahuas (80-55) 5-1 Thursday night from Chukchansi Park in the final regular season home game of 2018. Rodgers faced one over the minimum in seven scoreless innings. He gave up a leadoff hit and two walks while punching out four. He threw 90 pitches with 50 for strikes en route to the win.
Yordan Alvarez (3-for-5) grabbed Fresno a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first when he snuck a single to right, plating Myles Straw (3-for-5). Prior to scoring, Straw stole his professional baseball best 67^th base and PCL-leading 32^nd. Drew Ferguson made it 2-0 in the bottom of the third when he skied a sacrifice fly to left, knocking in Jack Mayfield.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jamie Ritchie (2-for-4) waltzed home on a single to center by Straw. That would extend the Grizzlies lead to 3-0. A two-run home half of the eighth expanded the advantage to 5-0. After Straw tripled to right, Kyle Tucker (1-for-1, four walks) destroyed a double to the right field corner. He would sprint to the plate after Mayfield found green grass in left.
El Paso ended the shutout in the top of the ninth when Shane Peterson doubled in Carlos Asuaje (2-for-4). That would end the rally as Brendan McCurry fanned the final two batters, providing Fresno a 5-1 victory.
With the win, the Grizzlies notched their 20^th series victory in 35 chances. J.D. Davis picked up two hits in the contest. Alvarez enjoyed his first three-hit game at Triple-A and Tucker lengthened his hit streak to eight games. In that span, he is 18-for-33 with seven dingers. Nick Tanielu also recorded a hit, tying Tucker for the current club-high at eight games.
Luis Perdomo (6-3) took the decision after three and one-third frames. He scattered eight hits, three runs (earned), while allowing three free passes and one whiff. Dillon Overton hurled three scoreless innings of relief for the Chihuahuas.
Fresno concludes their regular season with a four-game set in Salt Lake. The opener starts Friday evening from Smith's Ballpark at 5:35 PT. Grizzlies RHP Trent Thornton (9-8, 4.14) and Bees righty Dylan Unsworth (6-1, 5.33) are the probable matchup.