Four solo shots by San Jose halts Fresno in Game 2 on Wednesday

Fresno, CA (Wednesday, September 22) – The Fresno Grizzlies (0-2) were defeated by the San Jose Giants (2-0) 4-2 Wednesday night from Chukchansi Park. With the loss, Fresno will have to sweep the next three games to win the Low-A West Championship as the series shifts to San Jose on Friday.

Fresno’s offense was kept in check for the second consecutive contest. The Grizzlies scattered four hits again and scored both runs in the fifth inning. Julio Carreras and Colin Simpson both reached base twice and recorded a run each. Warming Bernabel and Bladimir Restituyo were the RBI recipients. Bernabel currently has the best batting average (.600) for Fresno in the playoffs.

San Jose’s lineup powered four solo shots en route to the victory. Patrick Bailey got the engines going with a blast in the second. After Jimmy Glowenke led off the seventh with a homer, Bailey followed suit with his second big fly of the game. The back-to-back jacks put the Giants ahead 3-2. Yorlis Rodriguez would add an insurance tater an inning later, putting the contest out of reach.

Grizzlies’ righty Tony Locey (0-1) was fantastic despite agonizing the decision. Locey chucked six innings of three-run ball, striking out six. He retired 18 of the 22 batters he faced. Anderson Pilar (2.0 IP) and Blair Calvo (1.0 IP) wrapped up the final three frames. The trio of arms fanned 10 batters and did not issue a walk in the setback.

Giants’ starter Carson Ragsdale (1-0) relished the victory after six innings of two-run ball. He allowed three hits and walks while punching out five. Wilkelma Castillo (hold, 1.0 IP) and Clay Helvey (save, 2.0 IP) packaged up the win after permitting only one hit. The clubs will enjoy an off day tomorrow.

Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)

• 3B Warming Bernabel (1-2, RBI)

• CF Bladimir Restituyo (1-3, RBI, CS)

• SS Julio Carreras (1-3, R, BB)

• 1B Colin Simpson (1-2, R, BB)

• Grizzlies pitching (9.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 10 K)

Top Performers: San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants)

• C Patrick Bailey (3-4, 2 HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)

• 2B Jimmy Glowenke (2-4, HR, RBI, R)

• 3B Yorlis Rodriguez (1-3, HR, RBI, R)

• Giants pitching (9.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K)

On Deck:

Friday, September 24 @ San Jose Giants, Game 3 of the Low-A West Playoffs/Championship, Fresno RHP Noah Gotsis (3-2, 3.14) vs. San Jose LHP Nick Swiney (0-0, 0.74), 6:30 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTES:

The Grizzlies are now 20-6 in games pitched by Tony Locey and 9-2 when he starts. The four home runs were the most allowed in a single game by the Grizzlies pitching staff and the three longballs permitted by Locey were the most given up in a single game by an individual pitcher.

Fresno and San Jose have met 32 times this year (30 regular season games) and have had 22 of those contests decided by one or two runs. The squads have each won 16 games.

This was the last Grizzlies game at Chukchansi Park in 2021.