Stayin’ Alive: Grizzlies end Nuts 16-game winning streak with 3-2 victory Friday

Fresno, CA (Friday, September 8) – The Fresno Grizzlies (77-53, 41-23) clawed past the Modesto Nuts (76-54, 42-22) 3-2 Friday night from Chukchansi Park. The Grizzlies ended the Nuts 16-game winning streak and kept their playoff hopes alive. Fresno still has to win the final two games of the regular season, despite having the better overall record (by one game) and head-to-head season series against Modesto (15-13). The Grizzlies improved to 44-24 (.647) in their last 68 games and 54-27 (.667) in their last 81 contests.

Fresno took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Jake Snider ripped a two-out single to left, plating Dyan Jorge. The Grizzlies moved to 52-13 overall and 25-3 at home when scoring first. Snider made it 2-0 Fresno in the bottom of the third when he drew a bases-loaded walk. Kyle Karros was the recipient of the run. In the top of the fourth, Modesto knotted the game when Lazaro Montes hammered a two-run homer to right-center field. It was Montes’ seventh tank of the season.

The squads traded zeroes for the next three innings before the Grizzlies regained control in the eighth. Kody Huff started the frame with a double to left. Huff was lifted for Jesus Bugarin as a pinch-runner. Bugarin scampered to third when pinch-hitter Cole Carrigg grounded out to first. Then, Fresno brought another pinch-hitter to the dish in Aidan Longwell. The Kent State product lined a two-strike pitch to left-center, concluding in a go-ahead RBI double. The huge hit was all the Grizzlies needed to hold on for the victory.

Fresno starter Caleb Franzen was efficient once again in a no-decision effort. Franzen dazzled for five frames of two-run ball, allowing a quartet of hits and no walks while fanning four. The southpaw has given up a trio of runs over his last three starts, spanning 17 innings. Isaiah Coupet entered for Franzen in the sixth with two runners on and nobody out. Coupet twirled his way through the frame without any damage. Carlos Torres added a fantastic inning of work. Torres has appeared in nine games against Modesto this season. He is 2-0 with two holds and a 0.00 ERA. Over 16.1 scoreless innings, Torres has permitted 10 hits and eight walks while fanning 13. Finally, Grizzlies closer Zach Agnos (5-3) hurled two electric frames, earning the triumph. Agnos wrapped up the ninth with the tying run at second.

Modesto righty Ryan Hawks chucked two innings, surrendering five hits and two runs (one earned). Blake Townsend and Riley Davis combined for five shutout frames. Davis struck out five in his outing. Natanael Garabitos (2-3) agonized the defeat after a rough eighth. The series continues tomorrow evening from Downtown Fresno.

Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)

• Grizzlies Bullpen (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)
• PH Aidan Longwell (1-1, 2B, RBI)
• LF Jake Snider (1-3, 2 RBI, BB)
• C Kody Huff (2-3, 2B, BB)

Top Performers: Modesto Nuts (Seattle Mariners)

• RF Lazaro Montes (2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R)
• RHP Riley Davis (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K)
• DH Tai Peete (1-4, R)

On Deck:

Saturday, September 9 vs. Modesto Nuts, Modesto RHP Tyler Cleveland (13-5, 3.56) vs. Fresno LHP Albert Pacheco (7-3, 4.63), 6:50 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTES:

Both Skyler Messinger and Kody Huff enjoyed multi-hit games.

This season, 58 of the Grizzlies 130 games have ended in one or two-run affairs (45%). Fresno is 24-15 (18-8 at home) in one-run games and 12-7 (6-3 at home) in two-run contests. Overall, the Grizzlies are 36-22 in those games with a 24-11 record at home.