Grizzlies Report for April 12: Salt Lake City 2, Fresno 1

Tuesday’s recap: Nate Smith and the Salt Lake bullpen shut out Fresno over the final six innings to secure a 2-1 Pacific Coast League victory Tuesday. Smith struck out nine over five innings, allowing only an unearned run in the third when Danny Worth reached on a throwing error and scored on Colin Moran’s double. The Grizzlies’ lack of offense ruined a productive night from their pitching staff, which saw starter Mike Hauschild allow two earned runs over six innings, followed by scoreless innings from Kevin Chapman and Juan Minaya.

Welcome back: Matt Duffy, who earned Pacific Coast League MVP honors last season during the Grizzlies’ run to the Triple-A championship, was optioned by the parent Houston Astros back to Fresno. Duffy opened the season on the Astros’ roster and went 0-for-3 in pinch-hitting duties. The right-handed hitting third baseman was sent down to clear a roster space for Evan Gattis. Duffy hit .294 with 20 home runs and 104 RBIs for the Grizzlies last season.

Wednesday’s match-up: Left-hander Tommy Shirley makes his season debut for Fresno in the third of a four-game series at Salt Lake. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. Shirley went 3-1 with a 3.07 ERA last season. Shirley will be opposed by Bees’ right-hander Yunesky Maya (1-0, 3.18).

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Grizzlies Report for April 12: Salt Lake City 2, Fresno 1."