May ends with an exclamation point as Fresno stomps San Jose 11-4

San Jose, CA (Friday, May 31) – The Fresno Grizzlies (29-19) made a statement, roaring past the San Jose Giants (27-21) 11-4 Friday night from Excite Ballpark. Fresno ended May on a high note, finishing the month 16-12 with a 10-6 away record. The Grizzlies improved to 16-3 on the road against the California League North Division, which includes a 6-1 mark in the South Bay. Fresno moved to 22-5 when scoring first with a 15-2 record away from home and are now 12-1 on the road Friday through Sunday. The Grizzlies still sit 4.5 games back of the Modesto Nuts with 17 contests left to play in the first half.

The Grizzlies offense etched 11 runs on 14 hits and three walks, notching a run in four different frames. Fresno plated a season-high five runs in the first and three runs in the eighth. The Grizzlies supplied two runs in the seventh and their other run in the fifth. Every Fresno starter reached base at least once with eight of the nine batters tallying a hit. A trio of players logged multi-hit games while a quartet of batters picked up two or more RBI. The Grizzlies also swiped three bags, giving them 12 stolen bases in the series.

Caleb Hobson reached base four times at the top of the lineup, continuing his unbelievable stretch as the leadoff hitter. Hobson swatted three singles and scored a trio of times. GJ Hill was unreal once again, going 4-for-5 with a homer (fifth of season, most on club), double, three RBI, four runs and a stolen base. Hill enjoyed career-highs in hits (4), runs (4), wallops (1) and RBI (3). Andy Perez lined an early RBI triple and provided a late RBI single. Perez is two triples shy of joining the Grizzlies Career Record Books in that category. Jason Hinchman knocked in two RBI with a sacrifice fly and single. He also drew a walk and stole a base. Felix Tena powered a two-run shot to highlight the five-run first, his second clout of the year. Tena extended his hit streak to nine games, grabbing eight RBI in that span. Ben McCabe blasted his first bomb of 2024, a solo shot in the eighth (Hill also went deep in that inning). EJ Andrews Jr. whacked a double and Nick Gile mustered a run in the first.

The offensive outpouring was enough support for Fresno righty Jack Mahoney (3-4, win). The Rockies #19 prospect tossed five innings of three-run ball (two earned). He scattered seven hits and fanned six batters. Four of his final six outs recorded were via punchout. Stu Flesland III followed Mahoney with two dazzling frames of relief. Flesland III struck out a career-high five batters, which included the side in the sixth. Welinton Herrera and Tyler Hoffman wrapped up the final two innings for the Grizzlies.

San Jose’s offense distributed four runs on nine hits, two walks and one hit-by-pitch. Every Giants’ batter reached base successfully with eight of the nine starters accumulating a hit. Drew Cavanaugh led the way with two hits, which included a double and RBI single. Scott Bandura and Guillermo Williamson also spanked doubles in the setback. San Jose lefty Joe Whitman (1-4) was tagged with the loss after permitting six runs in five innings. Austin Strickland and Junior Flores weren’t sharp either out of the bullpen, pooling together for five runs on six hits. Strickland allowed his first runs in a Giants uniform and Flores gave up his first two longballs of the season. The squads continue their six-game series tomorrow evening from the South Bay.

Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)

• CF GJ Hill (4-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 4 R, SB)
• 3B Andy Perez (2-5, 3B, 2 RBI, R)
• LHP Stu Flesland III (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)

Top Performers: San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants)

• C Drew Cavanaugh (2-4, 2B, RBI)
• LF Scott Bandura (1-4, 2B, RBI)
• 1B Guillermo Williamson (1-4, 2B)

On Deck:

Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 6:00 pm PT Fresno Grizzlies at San Jose Giants

Fresno LHP Isaiah Coupet (4-1, 4.54) vs. San Jose RHP Ubert Mejias (2-2, 3.57)

On That Fres-Notes:

Grizzlies’ OF/1B Jason Hinchman has reached base safely in 23 straight games and 31 of 32 contests this season (April 26-May 31 for the streak). In those 23 games, Hinchman is 22-for-74 (.297) with 16 walks. Grizzlies’ OF/2B GJ Hill has reached base safely in 17 straight games and 19 of 20 contests since joining Fresno (April 30-May 31 for the streak). In those 17 games, Hill is 17-for-60 (.283) with 12 walks. Hill has homered in four of his last five games.

Grizzlies’ OF Caleb Hobson has relished his new role as the team’s leadoff hitter. Since Hobson has been plugged into the leadoff spot, he has reached base 17 times in 28 plate appearances (six games). In four of those six games, Hobson has made it on base three or more times., combining to score nine runs. This includes starting the game off 4-for-5 with a walk. All four hits have been singles with half of them as bunt singles. Hobson has also swiped eight bases, picking up two of them in three of the six games.