Grizzlies Report for April 7: Las Vegas 6, Fresno 4
Walkoff loss to start the year: Las Vegas 51s first baseman Marc Krauss hit a walkoff, two-run homer off reliever Juan Minaya as the Fresno Grizzlies fell 6-4 on Thursday to start the season. Minaya had just entered the game for Jordan Jankowski then quickly served up the homer on a 2-1 count. The Grizzlies (0-1), who are in their second season as a Houston Astros Triple-A affiliate after 17 years with the San Francisco Giants, moved to 8-11 in season openers. Grizzlies newcomer A.J. Reed, considered the top first base prospect in baseball, went 0 for 3 with two walks, a run and an RBI. Fellow first baseman Jon Singleton, who played designated hitter, finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. Second baseman Danny Worth, who hit cleanup between Reed and Singleton, batted 2 for 4 with a homer, a triple, two runs and two RBIs. Grizzlies starting pitcher Brad Peacock last five innings, scattering two hits and two walks for two runs. He also had five strikeouts. Former Fresno State standout Danny Muno, who plays for Las Vegas, did not get in the game.
And, they’re off: Right-hander Asher Wojciechowski, 8-4 with a 4.92 ERA with the Grizzlies a year ago and 43-30 in his minor league career, is scheduled to take the mound as Fresno continues its Pacific Coast League season-opening series with Game 2 at 6:35 p.m. Friday. The 51s were to counter with RH Seth Lugo, a 26-year-old who was a 34th-round selection by the New York Mets in the 2011 draft. Lugo in 2015 was 2-2 with 4.00 ERA, striking out 30 in 27 innings, across five starts with Las Vegas and 6-5 with a 3.80 ERA at Double-A Binghamton.
Nice knowing you: Chris Devenski – the right-hander who pitched Fresno to a victory in the Triple-A national championship a year ago and was to start Thursday’s opener – was called up by major league parent club Houston. The right-hander Peacock, who has four years of major league experience but missed the bulk of last season with an intercostal (rib/back) strain, got the call vs. the 51s. The Astros sent RH Michael Feliz to the Grizzlies; RH Danny Reynolds was designated for assignment to make room for Devenski. Reyonlods continues to bounce around, waived by the Angels and Dodgers this offseason before landing with the Houston organization.
He’s back, man: The 51s, under fourth-year manager Wally Backman, enter their fourth season as the top affiliate of the Mets. Las Vegas has an overall record of 239-193 (.553) in three seasons, including PCL playoff appearances in 2013-14.
This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 10:27 PM with the headline "Grizzlies Report for April 7: Las Vegas 6, Fresno 4."