Grand Time for Perez and Grizzlies in 9-2 rout of Ports

Stockton, CA (Tuesday, April 16) – The Fresno Grizzlies (6-2) powered past the Stockton Ports (2-6) 9-2 Tuesday morning from Banner Island Ballpark. The Grizzlies improved to 62-23 all-time against the Ports with a 31-6 all-time record at Banner Island Ballpark. Fresno moved to 4-0 on the road (all wearing gray jerseys), 3-0 in the first game of a series and 2-0 in day contests.

In the top of the second inning, the Grizzlies offense brought 11 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs. Fresno netted their first run after a quartet of walks, with Luis Mendez receiving the RBI. Then, Caleb Hobson lifted a sacrifice fly to right, adding Fadriel Cruz. Aidan Longwell made it 3-0 after lining a single to center, pushing across Darius Perry. Finally, Andy Perez hammered a grand slam to right, his second longball of the year. The first Grizzlies grand slam of 2024 extended Perez’s hit streak to eight games, one shy of his longest hit streak while in a Fresno uniform. The Grizzlies mustered their final runs in the fourth and eighth innings. Jake Snider yielded a groundout, inching home Braylen Wimmer and Perez ripped a single off the glove of first baseman Darlyn Montero. Perez’s five RBI was a career-high. Overall, Fresno’s lineup collected 13 walks, tied for the most free passes in a single game this season. Seven of the nine batters drew a walk with five of them grabbing multi-walk affairs. The Grizzlies offense has walked 49 times over their last six contests, giving them 62 base-on-balls this year.

Fresno starter Jace Kaminska took a no-decision despite another outstanding start. The righty tossed three and two-thirds scoreless frames, allowing two hits and no walks while fanning four. Kaminska has not permitted a run over two starts, reaching eight and two-thirds total innings. Braden Carmichael did not throw a pitch, picking off Nathan Nankil at first to end the fourth. Lefty Isaiah Coupet (1-0) relished the win after three innings of relief. His only blemish was giving up a solo homer to Montero in the fifth. Jake Madden followed Coupet, walking four batters and awarding Nankil with one RBI. Brady Hill wrapped up the triumph facing a quartet of batters, punching out all four of them. The Grizzlies’ pitching staff has struck out double-digit batters in seven of their first eight games this season (10, 5x, 11 and 13). Overall, Fresno arms have fanned 79 total batters in 2024. Ports righty Drew Conover (0-1) suffered the loss after a plethora of control issues in the second. The clubs continue the series tomorrow night from Banner Island Ballpark.

Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)

• SS Andy Perez (2-5, GS, 5 RBI, R)
• RHP Jace Kaminska (3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
• RHP Brady Hill (1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)

Top Performers: Stockton Ports (Oakland Athletics)

• 1B Darlyn Montero (1-4, HR, RBI, R)
• LF Nathan Nankil (1-3, RBI, BB)
• C Cole Conn (1-3, R, BB, SB)

On Deck:

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 7:05 pm PT Fresno Grizzlies at Stockton Ports

Fresno RHP Bryan Perez (0-0, 2.25) vs. Stockton RHP Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (0-0, 0.00)

On That Fres-Note:

Eight of the nine starters in the Grizzlies lineup scored a run. Jake Snider was the lone batter without a run, despite walking twice. Snider has 13 walks over seven games this year.