Grizzlies Report for May 23: Fresno 8, Oklahoma City 7
Up next – The Fresno Grizzlies’ eight-game homestand continues at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday with RH Joe Musgrove (1-0, 2.45 ERA) on the mound for Fresno. Oklahoma City’s starter has yet to be announced. One of the Astros’ top pitching prospects, Musgrove makes his third Triple-A start since a May 13 call-up from Double-A Corpus Christi. The 23-year-old has allowed two runs or fewer in all six of his starts this season. Los Angeles Dodgers LH Hyun-jin Ryu is scheduled to make a rehab start Wednesday (11:05 a.m.) for Oklahoma City with top prospect Julio Urias (4-1, 1.10) slated to throw in Thursday night’s series finale.
Recap – Jon Kemmer singled home Andrew Aplin from third base with two outs in the ninth, sending the Fresno Grizzlies to an 8-7 walk-off victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Monday night at Chukchansi Park. Jon Singleton provided the bulk of Fresno’s offense with two home runs, a double and five RBIs. Singleton’s second blast, a three-run shot in the seventh, tied the game 7-7. The Grizzlies were in catch-up mode most of the night after Oklahoma City plated five runs in the fourth off Fresno starter Tommy Shirley to take a 6-1 lead.
Scuffling – Fresno’s team batting average dipped to .232 ahead of Monday’s homestand opener, which ranks 15th in the 16-team Pacific Coast League. The Grizzlies are 13th in on-base percentage (.319), 14th in slugging (.362), 13th in OPS (.681) and 12th in runs scored (176). Following the recent call-ups of Tony Kemp and Colin Moran, Danny Worth is the only everyday starter batting above .234 – A.J. Reed’s average beginning the week. The Grizzlies were held to a single run during four of six losses on their recent trip.
Late moves – Fresno is outscoring opposing teams 21-9 in the ninth (thanks in large part to closer James Hoyt) while being outscored 40-19 in the eighth.
Day daze – After going 10-15 last season in day games (despite an overall record of 84-59), the Grizzlies are 2-8 in games played under the sun this year.
The Fresno Bee
This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 10:15 PM with the headline "Grizzlies Report for May 23: Fresno 8, Oklahoma City 7."