Grizzlies Report for July 2: El Paso 6, Fresno 5

Thursday recap: RH Mark Appel was better but far from perfect in Triple-A start No. 2. He allowed nine hits and three runs in 5.2 innings yet was in line for the win, with the Grizzlies up 5-3 in the ninth. But it all slipped away with RH Jose Veras on in relief. Six straight hitters reached, the last Benji Gonzalez on a walk-off single in El Paso’s 6-5 win. There were two walks mixed in, and an infield single on a ball deflected by Veras tied it 5-5 and left the bases loaded with no outs for Gonzalez. Robbie Grossman hit a three-run homer in Fresno’s four-run fifth.

Grizzlies on Friday: Fresno continues to rework its roster as major league parent club Houston keeps calling for help. Grizzlies OF Alex Presley was the latest to be recalled Thursday — the eighth Fresno player this season and the fourth position player in just the past four weeks to earn a promotion. But the Grizzlies take on El Paso at 6:05 p.m., closing the series and road trip, still in charge in the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific North. RH Asher Wojciechowski (5-1, 4.01 ERA), off his first loss, faces El Paso RH Colin Rea, a Double-A call-up.

Stat of the day: 17-12 — Grizzlies in June, despite the personnel losses and a late stretch that saw them lose 6 of 7. Nearest pursuer Tacoma went 17-11.

Coming home: Tacoma is in for a four-game showdown series and homestand beginning at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Live music, a hot dog eating contest, food trucks and a postgame fireworks show are scheduled. Sunday is Military Appreciation Night, with $6 tickets to past and current service men and women and anyone in their group with proof of service. After the four with the Rainiers, it’s back on the road for five at Sacramento before the break ahead of the July 15 Triple-A All-Star Game in Omaha, Nebraska.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 9:52 PM with the headline "Grizzlies Report for July 2: El Paso 6, Fresno 5."