'Topes outlast Grizz at "The Lab"

Albuquerque, NM (Thursday, August 22) - Amidst the thin air of Central New Mexico, the Fresno Grizzlies (56-73) found themselves on the losing end of a typically high-scoring game at the home of the Albuquerque Istopes (56-73) on Thursday night. The 10-9 final (33 combined hits) dropped Fresno to 1-7 on their final road trip this season, lasting three more games through Sunday in the Duke City.
The home side sprinted out to a 6-0 first inning lead at Isotopes Park, anchored by a two-run homer by Sam Hilliard and a two-run double by Noel Cuevas.
In the second inning, Raudy Read homered for the third time in two games, a two-run shot that was his 19^th of the season, a night after hitting a pair at El Paso during Wednesday's series finale. Cuevas collected four RBI before the second inning concluded, dropping another two-RBI double, staking Albuquerque to an early 9-2 lead.
Trailing 9-3 in the sixth, pinch-hitter Collin Cowgill put the Grizzlies back in the game with his 11^th homer of the season to left field; Taylor Gushue was on base after his third hit of the night to score his second run. Gushue would go 4-for-5 on the evening with a pair of doubles, his first four-hit game this season.
Down 9-6 in the eighth, Fresno scored three times with two out to tie it. Yadiel Hernandez lifted his 28^th homer opposite field to left-center (equaling Brandon Snyder for the club lead), following Jake Noll's second double. Read then doubled, his third hit, before Drew Ward rapped an RBI single. In the home half of the inning however, a walk and a single led to a Roberto Ramos game-winning sac fly. The Grizzlies are 4-24 in their last 28 games (since July 23), following a four-game road win streak July 18-21.
Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Washington Nationals)
• C Taylor Gushue (4-5, 2 2B, 2 R)
• 1B Raudy Read (3-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)
• LF Yadiel Hernandez (2-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Top Performers: Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies)
• CF Noel Cuevas (3-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, R)
• RF Drew Weeks (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)
• 1B Roberto Ramos (3-4, RBI, 2 R)
Next Game

ON THAT FRES-NOTE: The 2017 Grizzlies' franchise record of 200 home runs is in jeopardy; this year's club is ahead of the pace, tracking to hit 203 homers (187, 11 games left) with three games remaining in the thin air of Albuquerque. While the baseballs may be different this season, in 2017 the PCL schedule was 142 games when Fresno led all of Minor League Baseball in home runs. The 2019 Grizzlies will play 140 games or fewer.
Grizzlies' infielder Carter Kieboom (1-2, BB) has reached base safely in 37 of his last 39 games dating to June 29; the Nationals' top-ranked prospect has six three-hit games during that span. He's reached base in 14 consecutive games.