Thursday night’s pitching matchup in San Bernadino pitted two of the league’s top pitchers against one another and it didn’t disappoint. Fresno lefty Breiling Euesebio made his fifth start of the season and was opposed by Inland Empire’s Ryan Smith. Both delivered as Fresno’s 3-2 victory was decided late in the game after both had departed.
Fresno’s third straight win kept them a game back of Modesto in the North division.
The Grizzlies got single runs in the 6th, 8th and 9th innings to lead 3-0, then Inland Empire struck for two in the bottom of the 9th but came up just short.
Eusebio went 4 2/3 scoreless, allowing five hits and a walk against 7 Ks. Smith, the reigning Low-A West Pitcher of the Week, worked into the 7th allowing 1 run on 5 hits and no walks with 8 Ks. The one earned run came in on an Isaac Collins triple in the 6th to break the scoreless tie. 2B Mateo Gil knocked in a run in the 8th to double the advantage and C Colin Simpson tripled in the final Fresno run in the 9th for the 3-0 lead.
Fresno’s Fineas Del Bonta-Smith pitched a rocky 9th inning for the save, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. RHP Keegan James (W, 2-0) and RHP Robinson Hernandez combined for 3 1/3 scoreless inning after Eusebio left the game.
SCOREBOARD
LAKE ELSINORE – 2
SAN JOSE – 8
Box
STOCKTON – 5
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 3
Box
VISALIA – 3
MODESTO -9
Box
