Fernandez and Guerrero clobber clouts, but Grizzlies lose 8-5 to Ports

Stockton, CA (Friday, July 1) – The Fresno Grizzlies (44-29, 3-4) stumbled to the Stockton Ports (26-47, 1-6) 8-5 Friday night from Banner Island Ballpark. With the setback, the Grizzlies dropped to 16-3 (+94 run differential, 167-73) against the Ports this year, 33-10 against Stockton over the past two seasons and 20-2 at Banner Island Ballpark (9-1, 104-32 run differential this year).

Over the first three games of the series, the Grizzlies offense scored 49 runs on 55 hits with 16 of them leaving the yard. Fresno added another five runs on 11 hits with two more homers on Friday. Eight of the 10 Grizzlies batters notched at least one hit with Juan Guerrero leading the charge. The center fielder had a trio of hits, including a three-run dinger in the ninth, his seventh of the season. Guerrero became the ninth Fresno batter to launch a clout in the series. Yanquiel Fernandez enjoyed the other longball, a solo shot in the first. It was Fernandez’s third wallop over four contests and ninth of the year. Warming Bernabel achieved two hits and picked up one RBI in the loss.

On the other side, the Ports lineup collected nine hits with five of them going for extra-bases. Junior Perez broke his bat in the first, sneaking a solo shot over the wall. Cooper Uhl crushed a tater in the second, pushing Stockton ahead. Max Muncy powered the other homer, a three-run tank in the sixth. Alexander Campos laced a triple in the third, plating T.J. Schofield-Sam. The first baseman mustered a double in the sixth. Perez finished the affair with three runs while Jalen Greer scored twice.

Grizzlies’ starter Brayan Castillo (1-4) suffered the loss after four frames of work. He allowed three runs and struck out five. Ports’ righty Kyle Virbitsky (4-4) relished the triumph after six and two-thirds innings of two-run ball (one earned). He fanned seven before giving way to the bullpen. Ed Baram (hold) and Aaron Cohn wrapped up the Stockton win with three punchouts. The clubs are back in action tomorrow evening from Banner Island Ballpark.

Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)

• CF Juan Guerrero (3-5, HR, 3 RBI, R)

• RF Yanquiel Fernandez (1-4, HR, RBI, R, BB)

• 3B Warming Bernabel (2-5, RBI, R, SB)

Top Performers: Stockton Ports (Oakland Athletics)

• RHP Kyle Virbitsky (6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K)

• SS Max Muncy (2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB)

• CF Junior Perez (1-4, HR, RBI, 3 R, BB, SB)

On Deck:

Saturday, July 2 @ Stockton Ports, Fresno RHP Victor Juarez (4-2, 4.30) vs. Stockton RHP Mitch Myers (3-5, 4.73), 7:05 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTES:

Fresno has mashed 49 homers over their 19 affairs against Stockton this season, with four contests of five taters or more. On the other side of the ball, the Grizzlies’ pitching staff has struck out 168 batters over the past 15 contests against the Ports.

The Grizzlies went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.