Tacos offense sizzles late in 5-4 triumph over Ports

Fresno, CA (Friday, July 22) – The Fresno Tacos (53-35, 12-10) served up a 5-4 comeback victory over the Stockton Ports (32-56, 7-15) Friday evening from Chukchansi Park. With the triumph, the Tacos improved to 13-3 in the first game of a series (8-1 at Chukchansi Park) and won their sixth straight home contest. Fresno’s last four home wins have been one-run decisions and the club rose to 13-4 in one-run affairs at Chukchansi Park.

The Tacos grabbed an early 2-0 advantage after a run in the first and third innings. Juan Brito led off the game with a triple and scored on an Adael Amador RBI groundout. Brito extended his hit streak to seven contests thanks to that triple. Juan Guerrero plated the second run on a double that ricocheted off the third base bag, pushing his hit streak to seven games as well.

All of the Ports offense came in the sixth, where four runs waltzed home. A fielding error by EJ Andrews Jr. in center allowed two runs to score. Then, Alexander Campos snuck a bloop single into shallow center, notching a pair of runs.

Despite the deficit, the Tacos were ready to cook up a comeback. In the eighth, Braxton Fulford put some extra guacamole on an inside fastball, sending it out of Chukchansi Park, tying the game at four. It was Fulford’s seventh longball of the season. After two walks and a single loaded the bases, the Ports called upon righty Clark Cota. The first pitch from Cota was wild, permitting Ben Sems to scamper home with the eventual winning run. A 1-2-3 ninth frame by Angel Chivilli provided Fresno with their 11th comeback victory of 2022.

Neither starter factored in the final line. Tacos’ righty Case Williams tossed five and two-thirds innings of four-run ball (one earned). He allowed five hits and one walk while fanning six. On the other side, Ports ace Kyle Virbitsky struck out seven over five-plus frames. He permitted two runs on seven hits. Fresno reliever Luis Amoroso added one and one-third shutout innings. Tyler Ras (3-2) received the victory and Chivilli secured his first save of the year. Stockton hurler Serafino Brito (0-2) suffered the defeat after a rocky eighth.

The Tacos improved to 19-3 (+101 run differential, 185-84) against the Ports this year, 36-10 against Stockton over the past two seasons and 22-2 at Banner Island Ballpark (117-39 run differential this year). Fresno has mashed 53 homers over their 22 affairs against Stockton this season, with four contests of five taters or more. On the other side of the ball, the Tacos’ pitching staff has struck out 195 batters over the past 18 contests against the Ports. The squads continue their series tomorrow night from downtown Fresno.

Top Performers: Fresno Tacos (Colorado Rockies)

• C Braxton Fulford (1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R)

• LF Juan Guerrero (3-4, 2B, RBI, R)

• RF Yanquiel Fernandez (3-4, 2B, BB)

Top Performers: Stockton Ports (Oakland Athletics)

• SS Alexander Campos (1-4, 2 RBI)

• DH Mariano Ricciardi (2-4, 2B)

• RHP Kyle Virbitsky (5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K)

On Deck:

Saturday, July 23 vs. Stockton Ports, Stockton RHP Mitch Myers (4-6, 4.79) vs. Fresno RHP McCade Brown (2-4, 4.75), 6:50 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTE:

The alter ego that started it all, the Fresno Tacos, returned to Chukchansi Park this series for “Tacos Weekend.” This year’s Tacos colorway features purple and black as a tribute to both the Colorado Rockies, Major League affiliate of the Grizzlies, and the team’s original 1998 branding.