The Fresno Grizzlies (15-6) hung on to beat the Tacoma Rainiers (10-10) 4-3 Thursday night from Chukchansi Park. Fresno reliever Buddy Boshers (2-0) earned the win after a perfect eighth while Brendan McCurry picked up his fourth save after striking out the side in the ninth. Clovis native Ryan Cook
The Fresno Grizzlies (15-6) hung on to beat the Tacoma Rainiers (10-10) 4-3 Thursday night from Chukchansi Park. Fresno reliever Buddy Boshers (2-0) earned the win after a perfect eighth while Brendan McCurry picked up his fourth save after striking out the side in the ninth. Clovis native Ryan Cook (0-1) suffered the loss in one and one-third innings. Both starters took no-decisions in five-plus inning efforts.
Fresno drew first blood in the bottom of the first, tallying two runs. Tony Kemp (2-for-4) led the game with a triple in the gap, then scored on a wild pitch and attempted throw to second. It was his second triple of the season and his 18th in a Grizzly uniform. Kemp would pass Nate Schierholtz and tie Fred Lewis for second all-time in franchise history. Later, the second run trotted home on an AJ Reed groundout.
Tacoma responded quickly, tying the game in the next half inning. Jayson Werth led off with a double and crossed home on a sacrifice fly by Mike Marjama. Then, Fresno State product Danny Muno (2-for-3) lasered a RBI single to right.
After trading zeros, Drew Ferguson gave the Grizzlies a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth when he grounded out to second.
The Rainiers answered once again in the next half inning with a walk, stolen base and error. The run took both starters off the hook for any decision.
Fresno scored one final run in the bottom of the eighth when J.D. Davis (2-for-3) spanked a go-ahead double to left-center. His 11th RBI provided the Grizzlies a 4-3 win.
The two teams are back at it Friday night from Chukchansi Park. Tacoma RHP Casey Lawrence (1-1, 3.00) battles Fresno LHP Kent Emanuel (2-0, 1.08). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PT.
