The Fresno Grizzlies (20-30) dropped the series opener against the Albuquerque Isotopes (27-22) 11-6 Saturday night, the start of a four-game series and eight-game homestand at Chukchansi Park. The Isotopes overcame two three-run Fresno leads, the largest lead blown by the Grizzlies this season (five times).The Grizzlies took an early
The Fresno Grizzlies (20-30) dropped the series opener against the Albuquerque Isotopes (27-22) 11-6 Saturday night, the start of a four-game series and eight-game homestand at Chukchansi Park. The Isotopes overcame two three-run Fresno leads, the largest lead blown by the Grizzlies this season (five times).
The Grizzlies took an early lead in the opening frame. Tony Kemp led off with a walk and scored on a Teoscar Hernández RBI double. It was his first RBI since April 22 against Salt Lake, despite being out with an injury in the big leagues from April 23 - May 11. Colin Moran (2-for-5) knocked a two-run double that scored Reid Brignac (single, 2-for-4) and Hernandez to make the score 3-0.
In the second, Collin Ferguson put the Isotopes on the board by reaching third on an error that scored Noel Cuevas (2-for-4) and Jordan Patterson. The Grizzlies responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second frame to take a 5-2 lead. Max Stassi started the inning by reaching on an error and scoring on a Kemp sacrifice bunt. An error allowed Kemp to reach third and score on a Brignac RBI single.
The Isotopes tied the contest 5-5 in the fifth with a three-run homer to left by Cristhian Adames. His first home run of the season scored Anthony Bemboom and Raimel Tapia (2-for-4) who both walked to get on.
Fresno went ahead 6-5 in the sixth on a Derek Fisher (3-for-5) RBI double that scored Stassi who singled to get on. Fisher has hit safely in 25 of 29 games, batting .357 in that span with seven homers, 10 doubles and 21 RBI. He leads the club with 18 multi-hit games (six three-hit, 12 two-hit). Albuquerque took a 7-6 lead in the seventh on a two-run triple by Tapia. Rafael Ynoa (2-for-4) and Bemboom both scored to give the Isotopes their first lead of the game.
Grizzlies starter Casey Coleman (2-3) went six and two thirds innings in his fifth start of the season. He allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in the loss. This marks the second consecutive game that a Fresno starter registered nine punch-outs, a personal best for Coleman and club-high. Francis Martes set the season-high Friday night in Tacoma.
With Fresno reliever Brian Holmes on the mound in the eighth, Ynoa hit his second home run of the season, a grand slam to left. Cuevas (single), Derrik Gibson (single) and Ferguson (walk) scored to give Albuquerque an 11-6 lead to win the game.
Albuquerque starter Jeff Hoffman went five innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Sam Moll (1-2) earned his first win of the season in an inning and two thirds of relief, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts. He did not walk a batter.
The two clubs will play the second of a four-game series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. LHP Ryan Carpenter (2-3, 4.82) will be on the mound for the Isotopes against RHP David Martinez (1-6, 7.32) for the Grizzlies.
