Fresno exerts pure dominance
SALT LAKE CITY - Already enjoying a five-run lead through five innings, the Fresno Grizzlies ramped things up over the last four innings with 12 runs on 17 hits to cap a 17-0 win over the Salt Lake Bees Sunday afternoon at Smith's Ballpark. The 17-run winning margin ties for the largest in franchise history, last accomplished when Fresno won 19-2 over Salt Lake back on June 20, 2005. The shutout win is also the largest since the Grizzlies won 15-0 over Sacramento on August 30, 2008. The win also helps Fresno avoid back-to-back losses, which they haven't suffered since they dropped two in a row to El Paso from May 4-5th.
Fourteen days after Alex Presley set a new franchise record with six hits, the outfielder led the team with five hits and four RBI in the shutout. Jonathan Villar, Matt Duffy, and L.J. Hoes all recorded four-hit efforts, while Jon Singleton and Robbie Grossman had three each, Domingo Santana picked up two knocks, and Tony Kemp and Tyler Heineman each chipped in with one. The 27 hits eclipses the previous franchise high of 25 set on August 7, 2006 in an 11 inning 17-16 victory over Memphis.
Starter Mike Hauschild turned in a spectacular Triple-A debut, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings and limiting Salt Lake to three hits. Relievers Mitch Lambson (2.2 IP) and James Hoyt (1.0 IP) helped finish off Fresno's third combined shutout of the season and first since Brady Rodgers, Richard Rodriguez, and Darin Downs kept Tacoma scoreless on May 8th.
Domingo Santana went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI, walk, and a run scored to extend his league-high on-base streak to 34 games. The outfielder is 16-for-29 (.552) with six doubles, a homer, 13 RBI, and nine walks over his last nine games.
Jon Singleton extended his season-high hitting streak to 10 games with a 3-for-6 effort. The lefty picked up two more RBI to give him 59 on the season, which leads all of Minor League Baseball.
The offense went a stunning 14-for-28 with runners in scoring position. The 17 runs ties their season high set back on May 13th at Albuquerque.
Fresno is traveling tonight into Sacramento to prepare for a three-game series against the River Cats at Raley Field that begins on Monday at 7:05 PM PT. The Grizzlies send right-hander and former River Cats starter Dan Straily to the mound to face ex-Grizzlies righty Matt Cain, who is making his second rehab start and first with Sacramento.
What else?
The Grizzlies return home for a seven-game homestand on Thursday, June 18th at Chukchansi Park. The homestand features four games against the Pacific Southern division-leading Las Vegas 51s and a three-game set against the River Cats. For ticket information, visit FresnoGrizzlies.com.