Giants play spoiler, walk-off on Grizzlies 6-5 (10) as magic number remains at two

San Jose, CA (Thursday, June 16) – The Fresno Grizzlies (39-21) dropped a 6-5 (10) heartbreaker to the San Jose Giants (34-26) Thursday night from Excite Ballpark. Fresno fell to 2-2 in extra innings and suffered their first free baseball road loss of the year. The Grizzlies have to win just one more game against the Giants to earn a playoff berth for the second consecutive season.

In the top of the second, the Grizzlies roared ahead 4-0 thanks to a passed ball and a three-run moonshot from Zach Kokoska. It was Kokoska’s fifth homer of the season. The Giants plated their first two runs from a groundout in the third and a balk in the sixth. San Jose grabbed a 5-4 lead in the seventh after three RBI singles. Riley Mahan, Carter Williams and Dilan Rosario were the RBI recipients. Despite the deficit, Kokoska would tie the game at five with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. This would send the game to extras.

After Fresno came up empty in the top of the 10th, San Jose got their chance in the bottom half. An intentional walk and single loaded the bases for Garrett Frechette. The first baseman poked a high chopper through a drawn infield and the Giants celebrated a 6-5 walk-off win. This gave Hunter Dula (2-2) the triumph and Juan Mejia (2-2) the defeat.

The Grizzlies lineup concluded their contest with seven hits and walks. Warming Bernabel was the only Fresno batter to notch multiple hits while Kokoska drove in all four runs. Braxton Fulford scored twice for the Grizzlies. The Giants offense tallied 11 hits with four starters notching multi-hits. Grant McCray, Williams, Rosario and Frechette each provided two hits with McCray racing home twice.

Fresno starter McCade Brown was fantastic over a career-high five frames. Brown allowed one run on four hits and two walks while punching out nine in a no-decision effort. Reliever Luis Amoroso fanned five of the six batters he faced. San Jose righty Eric Silva hurled six solid innings, striking out four. The squads are back to battle tomorrow evening from the South Bay.

Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)

• DH Zach Kokoska (1-1, HR, 4 RBI, R, 2 BB, SB)

• RHP McCade Brown (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K)

• C Braxton Fulford (1-3, 2 R, BB)

Top Performers: San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants)

• 1B Garrett Frechette (2-5, RBI; walk-off 1B)

• CF Grant McCray (2-4, 3B, 2B, 2 R, BB, SB)

• DH Carter Williams (2-3, RBI, R, BB, HBP, SB)

On Deck:

Friday, June 17 @ San Jose Giants, Fresno RHP Brayan Castillo (1-3, 4.79) vs. San Jose LHP Esmerlin Vinicio (3-0, 6.30), 6:30 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTE:

The Grizzlies pitching staff tied their season-high with 16 strikeouts.