Warszawski: Strange as it sounds, Fresno Grizzlies are champions

James Hoyt’s final pitch came in low and inside. Nomar Mazara swung and missed. Tyler Heineman collected the baseball and ran toward the mound while tossing his catcher’s mask in the air. Heinemen leapt into Hoyt’s arms, and moments later they were mobbed by joyous teammates and coaches.

Such a scene had never taken place at Chukchansi Park. Not since the stadium opened in 2002, and not in the 18-year-history of Triple-A baseball in Fresno. That all changed at precisely 4:24 Sunday afternoon when the Fresno Grizzlies became Pacific Coast League champions for the first time.

Yes, you read that right. The Grizzlies are champions.

Powered by Tyler White’s two-run homer, Robbie Grossman’s two-run double, playoff MVP Tony Kemp’s three hits and Mark Appel’s 10 strikeouts, Fresno subdued Round Rock 7-3 in the winner-take-all Game 5 of the PCL finals.

No one who followed the Grizzlies this season, their first as an Astros affiliate, should be surprised at this outcome. Manager Tony DeFrancesco, now a four-time PCL champion, kept them in first place all season despite a slew of trades, injuries and major-league promotions. But it’s still kind of a shock to those who paid attention during the previous 17 under the Giants’ umbrella.

Despite all those years of sub-.500 finishes, many were convinced the Grizzlies were done for last September when the Giants bolted for the greener (i.e. money) pastures of Sacramento. Instead, the franchise rebranded itself, transforming into Fresno’s team instead of the Junior Giants, and enjoyed a spiritual rebirth.

“All we heard 368 days ago was about the demise of the franchise and the demise of baseball in Fresno,” said Grizzlies owner Chris Cummings, his orange shirt and gray hair sopping wet from a celebration that left a puddle of champagne and beer in the middle of the home clubhouse.

“We told people back then they were going to be proud of the affiliation with Houston. I still love the Giants, but this Astros organization is phenomenal. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Nor would the 5,275 in attendance Sunday, the smallest crowd (by nearly 3,000) of the final three games in downtown Fresno. The 93-degree temperatures at first pitch, rising to 98 by the ninth inning, surely played a significant role in that.

Most avoided direct sun exposure by watching from the main concourse. But by the later innings, as shade began to cover sections of the stadium along the first-base side, those seats became filled with towel-waving fans.

There was a different atmosphere in the ballpark during these three games. Everyone from the players to the announcers to the ushers could tell. Casual fans who normally only pay attention between sipping beer and fiddling with their phones turned into a captive audience.

With so much at stake, every pitch and swing took on importance. Hushed tones accompanied every grounder and fly ball, no matter how routine. Every out recorded by the home team became cause for raucous cheers.

When Round Rock scored or threatened to do so, the tension and teeth-gnashing were palpable. There was angst and anxiety. It felt like … well, just like postseason baseball is supposed to feel like.

“A lot of times people come to the ballpark just to have a good time,” Grizzlies general manager Derek Franks said. “But I think in the playoffs you turn people who are fringe fans into hard-core baseball fans once they understand how big this is. This puts us in a great position going forward.”

What the home fans may have lacked in uniformity they made up in enthusiasm.

Whenever Round Rock’s small traveling party struck up a “Let’s go Round Rock!” chant from their luxury suite above third base it was soon drowned out by “Let’s go Fresno!” or “Let’s go Grizzlies!”

“What a team, and what an accomplishment,” DeFrancesco told the crowd during the on-field trophy presentation. “Fresno’s a great city, and we’re proud to be here.”

For the first time in a quite a while it felt like the feeling was mutual.

Did you stay home? Did you miss out on Fresno’s first championship in pro baseball since the 1987 Fresno Giants? Chances are, you’ll get another chance. Seven of the Astros’ minor-league affiliates reached postseason play in 2015, including Double-A Corpus Christi and Class-A Lancaster.

“We’re going to try to keep this thing going,” DeFrancesco said.

In future years the Grizzlies may need to amend their “Where champions are grown” slogan. Just take out the “grown.”

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Warszawski: Strange as it sounds, Fresno Grizzlies are champions."