Grizzlies Report for May 8: El Paso 9, Fresno 4

Bullpen blown up – The Fresno Grizzlies’ usually reliable bullpen proved to be anything but Sunday in a 9-4 loss to the hosting El Paso Chihuahuas. Grizzlies reliever Jordan Jankowski served up a go-ahead home run in the seventh, and closer James Hoyt hindered the comeback efforts by allowing four runs (three unearned) in the eighth as the Grizzlies lost consecutive games for the first time since April 23-24. Roberto Peña’s 2-for-4 outing highlighted Fresno’s day.

Saturday recap – The Grizzlies were coming off a 6-4 loss Saturday after Fresno’s bullpen allowed all six runs following five scoreless innings from pitcher Lance McCullers. The young, rising star struck out seven and allowed two hits and two walks in what might’ve been his final rehab start before rejoining the Grizzlies’ parent club, the Houston Astros.

Up next – The Grizzlies and Chihuahuas will conclude the four-game series Monday, with the first pitch at 5:35 p.m. Fresno right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (2-2, 5.33 ERA) is scheduled to face El Paso’s Brandon Morrow (0-0, 11.25), who’s thrown 768  2/3 innings over nine seasons in the majors. Morrow, 31, is recovering from shoulder surgery.

The Fresno Bee

This story was originally published May 8, 2016 at 8:07 PM with the headline "Grizzlies Report for May 8: El Paso 9, Fresno 4."