Grizzlies Report for Aug. 22: Round Rock 4, Fresno 2
Saturday recap: Fresno failed to close out another lengthy and otherwise successful homestand with a win – this time hurt by a couple of odd factors. Starting pitcher Brady Rodgers was pulled in the middle of the third inning because of a strained back and Chukchansi Park had a partial power outage that caused a 23-minute delay in the sixth. When it was over, the Grizzlies had their franchise-best winning streak of 11 come to an end with a 4-2 loss to the Round Rock Express before an announced crowd of 7,107. The Grizzlies finished the homestand 7-1. In the Grizzlies’ previous stay at home, they won the first eight games before dropping the finale. Saturday, the Grizzlies trailed 1-0 when Rodgers stepped off the rubber and reached for his oblique area following a pitch with one out in the third. He walked off to the clubhouse soon after. Fresno’s deficit grew to 4-0 after reliever Luis Cruz allowed three runs in the fifth. The Grizzlies seemed to gain some momentum during the bottom half of the inning after Jonathan Villar and Tony Kemp each drove in a run. But while the Grizzlies were at bat with one out in the sixth, the stadium lights in right field went dark. Theough power was restored, the Grizzlies’ offense failed to find a spark, going hitless during the final 3.2 innings. Rodgers’ abrupt injury caused Fresno to use five relievers on the night, including an appearance by Grizzlies newcomer Juan Minaya. The 24-year-old Dominican Republic native struck out the side in the eighth in his Triple-A debut. Minaya, who was called up Saturday, was 1-0 with a 3.25 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 44 .1 innings at Double-A Corpus Christi this season.
Grizzlies on Sunday: Fresno (78-49) has Sunday off before beginning an eight-game trip Monday – a swing that opens with four against the Iowa Cubs, then four with the Omaha Storm Chasers. Grizzlies RH Dan Straily (10-6, 3.58 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday’s 4:38 p.m. game. The Cubs starter had yet to be announced. Straily has struck out 44 batters in his past 39 innings (six starts).
Stat of the day: .529 – Batting average for Grizzlies DH Tyler White when hitting with runners on base. White is hitting .399 with five homers and 47 RBIs in 41 games overall with the Grizzlies, which also marks his first stint in Triple A.
This story was originally published August 22, 2015 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Grizzlies Report for Aug. 22: Round Rock 4, Fresno 2."