Locey dazzles and Gil goes yard as Grizzlies split series with Rawhide  

Visalia, CA (Sunday, August 22) – The Fresno Grizzlies (63-33) earned a series split after defeating the Visalia Rawhide (27-69) 5-2 Sunday afternoon from Valley Strong Ballpark. With the victory, Fresno has yet to lose a road series in 2021 (5 wins, 3 ties) and have won 24 of their last 32 away contests. The Grizzlies finished the year 19-5 against the Rawhide, outscoring them 139-86.

Fresno righty Tony Locey (2-0) was sensational in his seventh start of the season. He dazzled for a career-high seven innings, allowing two runs (zero earned) on one hit, two walks and 10 strikeouts, also a professional best. Locey retired the final 17 batters he faced and his seven frames tied a season-high for a Grizzlies pitcher. His 10 punchouts were also one shy of the Fresno 2021 high-mark. Blake Goldsberry (hold, 3) and Gavin Hollowell (save, 2) twirled 1-2-3 innings, fanning a pair each. The trio of arms struck out 14 batters and allowed a season-low one hit while combining to retire the final 23 Visalia hitters.

The Rawhide grabbed an early 2-0 lead from a wild pitch and pickoff error. Caleb Roberts scored the second of the two runs and recorded the only Visalia hit. Fresno would plate all five of their runs in the top of the third and never looked back. Drew Romo smacked a double to left, plating Eddy Diaz. The duo each supplied multiple hits in the triumph. Then, Mateo Gil tattooed a three-run missile to left field. It was his third homer of the series and eighth longball of the year. Gil relished a double in the affair as well. Finally, Bladimir Restituyo netted Julio Carreras with a single. Restituyo and AJ Lewis also notched two hits apiece with Restituyo extending his hit streak to eight games. Overall, the Grizzlies offense whacked 11 hits with six going for extra-bases. The five doubles would be a season-high for Fresno.

Visalia southpaw Avery Short (0-5) suffered the setback after six frames of work. He did not issue a walk and fanned six batters. Ross Carver chucked three innings of scoreless relief, punching out three. Both clubs are back in action Tuesday night with the Grizzlies battling the Modesto Nuts from Chukchansi Park.

Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)

• RHP Tony Locey (7.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K; sat down final 17 batters he faced)

• 2B Mateo Gil (2-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, R)

• DH Drew Romo (2-4, 2B, RBI, R, SB)

• RHP Blake Goldsberry and RHP Gavin Hollowell (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)

Top Performers: Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks)

• LHP Avery Short (6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)

• RHP Ross Carver (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)

• RF Caleb Roberts (1-3, R)

On Deck:

Tuesday, August 24 vs Modesto Nuts, Modesto RHP Josias De Los Santos (4-6, 4.76) vs. Fresno TBD, 6:50 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTE:

Tony Locey and Mateo Gil were both involved in the Nolan Arenado trade during the offseason. Locey hurled 12 shutout innings in his two starts during the series. He gave up two runs (zero earned) on three hits and five walks while striking out 16. Gil crushed three clouts in four games during the series, driving in six runs and scoring four times.