Fresno, Calif. (Sunday, April 7) - For the second straight game, the Fresno Grizzlies (3-1) were dealt a winning hand, beating the Reno Aces (1-3) 6-3 Sunday afternoon. Matt Reynolds followed his grand slam last night with a two-run shot that flew over the batter's eye to dead center in the
Fresno, Calif. (Sunday, April 7) - For the second straight game, the Fresno Grizzlies (3-1) were dealt a winning hand, beating the Reno Aces (1-3) 6-3 Sunday afternoon. Matt Reynolds followed his grand slam last night with a two-run shot that flew over the batter's eye to dead center in the bottom of the first. Later, José Marmolejos blasted a two-run dinger to deep right field. His homer put Fresno ahead 6-0.
Kevin Cron put Reno on the board in the top of the eighth when he sliced a double to the gap, clearing the bases. Cron has six RBI through the first four games of the season.
Aces starter Vinny Nittoli (0-1) suffered the decision after three innings of work while Paolo Espino (1-0) picked up the win. Espino allowed one hit and three walks while striking out six through five shutout frames. He also went 2-for-2 at the plate, scoring once. Jimmy Cordero secured his first save of the season for the Grizzlies.
Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Washington Nationals)
• SS Matt Reynolds (2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB)
• 1B Jose Marmolejos (1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB)
• RHP Paolo Espino (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K)
Top Performers: Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• 3B Kevin Cron (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI)
• C Caleb Joseph (1-3, R, BB)
• LHP Alex Young (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K)
ON THAT FRES-NOTE: Today Paolo Espino became the first Grizzlies' pitcher to record a hit in a game since Chris Heston on August 27, 2014 at Memphis. Espino is the first Fresno pitcher to get a base hit at home since Kelvin Marte on August 16, 2014 against Colorado Springs at Chukchansi Park. Espino is the first Grizz pitcher with two hits in a game since Edwin Escobar on May 28, 2014 at Reno. The Grizzlies spent four seasons playing American League ball (2015-2018) as a Houston Astros affiliate, before pitchers returned to the batter's box regularly for 2019 against other National League affiliated-teams, with Fresno now the Washington Nationals' Triple-A farm.
