The Fresno Grizzlies dropped to 8-13 all-time on opening day Thursday evening, and 1-3 as a Houston Astros affiliate. In the first of a five game road trip, the Grizz dropped a 10-2 decision to the Reno Aces, as the home side scored in four of the first six innings.Reno
The Fresno Grizzlies dropped to 8-13 all-time on opening day Thursday evening, and 1-3 as a Houston Astros affiliate. In the first of a five game road trip, the Grizz dropped a 10-2 decision to the Reno Aces, as the home side scored in four of the first six innings.
Reno drew first blood in the first inning with a Sócrates Brito (3-for-4) two-run single to center. Illdemaro Vargas (walk) and Jack Reinheimer (single) each scored.
Still leading 2-0 in the second, the Aces sent eight batters to the plate and scored five times on three hits, a walk and a hit batter, punctuated by a Christian Walker two-run homer to right field; Walker was the 2017 Pacific Coast League MVP.
Astros top prospect Kyle Tucker registered his first Triple-A hit in the third, a two-out single to right field. Tucker reached base three times in his first Grizz game, going 2-for-4 with a walk.
Fresno starter Mike Hauschild (0-1) exited with one out in the third, after 59 pitches. He surrendered seven (earned) runs on seven hits, with three walks and a strikeout.
Leading 7-0 in the fourth, Yasmany Tomás (2-for-4) lifted a homer to right, a two-run job scoring Brito after a single.
Trailing 9-0 in the sixth, the Grizzlies registered their first run of 2018. Drew Ferguson (3-for-4), Tucker and Tyler White led off with three consecutive singles, with White delivering the RBI knock up the middle. Reno made it 10-1 in the home half of the inning; Reinheimer (2-for-4) tripled and trotted home on a Walker sac fly.
Braden Shipley (1-0) picked up the win, lasting five and a third innings, allowing just the (earned) run on seven hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out three.
Fresno tacked on another run in the seventh, when Garrett Stubbs tripled into the left field gap and scored on a Tony Kemp sac fly to the warning track in left.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday evening at 6:35 p.m. at Greater Nevada Field. Probable starting pitchers are RHP Trent Thornton for Fresno, and RHP Taylor Clarke for Reno.
