Fresno's Straw plays hero in semis opener
Prior to the start of the Pacific Coast League semifinals Wednesday, Triple-A Fresno skipper Rodney Linares predicted the matchup will be decided by each side's biggest strengths -- his team's offense and the El Paso bullpen. After roughing up starter Walker Lockett for seven runs, it took more than four innings
Prior to the start of the Pacific Coast League semifinals Wednesday, Triple-A Fresno skipper Rodney Linares predicted the matchup will be decided by each side's biggest strengths -- his team's offense and the El Paso bullpen.
After roughing up starter
"The way the game was going, it wasn't over until it was over," Straw said. "They made it a tough game on us."
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El Paso trotted out 6-foot-9 left-hander
"I just told myself to try to get to him early before you get behind and he starts throwing you his curveball," said Straw, who struck out in his one previous appearance against Brewer this season. "I just remember his curveball being really good. His fastball is a cutter too. I was trying to get something out over the plate and kind of go that way with it."
The clutch knock was Straw's only hit in five at-bats, but he also walked and stole a base in the second. In 131 games between Fresno and Double-A Corpus Christi, the 23-year-old led all of professional baseball with 70 total steals while getting caught just nine times. Straw moved up to the Grizzlies on June 16 after batting .327/.414/.390 with 11 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs. He hit .257/.349/.317 with 10 doubles and 35 steals in the final 66 regular-season contests with the Grizzlies.
Fresno capitalized on El Paso's early mistakes, scoring four times with just one hit in the first. A pair of walks and a hit batsmen loaded the bases for third-ranked
"You can never count this team out," Straw said. "We're capable of scoring at any part in the lineup, so that didn't surprise me."
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Lockett gave up another run in the fifth, allowing MLB.com's No. 8 overall prospect
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"They ran out some good arms," Straw said. "They had Reyes, he was out there throwing 100 [mph]. A couple tough lefties. They kind of mixed and matched and that's kind of what we expect in playoff baseball."
The series stays in Southwest University Park for Game 2 on Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 9:05 p.m. ET.
In other PCL playoff action:
Memphis-Oklahoma City, ppd. (wet conditions)
Gerard Gilberto is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @GerardGilberto4.