Grizzlies Report for June 9: Salt Lake 12, Fresno 10
Big rally but late fall – The Grizzlies rallied from an eight-run deficit but ran themselves out of two late innings and lost 12-10 to the Salt Lake Bees in extras Thursday night. Salt Lake’s Ji-Man Choi singled to deep right to drive in two runs off of Fresno closer James Hoyt in the 10th and win it before the announced crowd of 4,863 at Chukchansi Park. The Grizzlies dropped to 1-3-1 in extra-inning games. The Grizzlies trailed 9-1 early after the Bees scored six in the third inning alone, including a three-run double by Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who is rehabbing with Triple-A Salt Lake. The Grizzlies went on to even the score with a three-run seventh as a Salt Lake fielding error led to the tying run. The Grizzlies tried to score the go-ahead run in the next inning, but pinch runner Eury Perez was thrown out at home trying to tag up off a fly to shallow center. Fresno leadoff hitter Andrew Aplin then ended the ninth trying to get into scoring position and instead was caught stealing second base. The night lasted 4 hours, 1 minutes – the Grizzlies’ longest game this season.
Up next – Fresno RH Brad Peacock (0-2, 5.94 ERA) will seek his first win of the season in his 11th start when the Grizzlies host Salt Lake for Game 2 of their Pacific Coast League series Friday at 7:05 p.m. The 28-year-old will face Bees RH Kyle McGowin (2-2, 5.51), who gave up three homers while allowing eight runs in 2 2/3 innings Saturday at Reno.
Lincecum’s return official – Ex-San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum is returning to Chukchansi Park, with the Grizzlies confirming his Sunday spot in visiting Salt Lake’s probable rotation. First pitch is 5:05 p.m. Lincecum, 31, opened 2007 with Fresno and went 4-0 with a 0.29 ERA in five starts, then was called up to San Francisco where he blossomed into a two-time Cy Young winner. The Giants and Lincecum, after the pitcher had hip surgery in September, parted ways in the offseason and the right-hander signed last month with the Los Angeles Angels. Lincecum was assigned to Salt Lake and will make his third start. He is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 10 innings for the Bees. RH Brady Rodgers (4-3, 3.28 ERA), named the Houston Astros’ Triple-A Pitcher of the Month for May, will start for the Grizzlies in the series finale.
Looking up – The Grizzlies and Bees entered the series in third place in their respective divisions. The Grizzlies (25-32) were 8 1/2 games back of first place Tacoma in the Pacific Northern and the Bees (27-30) 7 1/2 back of El Paso in the Pacific Southern. Salt Lake had lost 8 of 10.
The Fresno Bee
This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 11:21 PM with the headline "Grizzlies Report for June 9: Salt Lake 12, Fresno 10."