The Fresno Grizzlies got back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning from Warming Bernabel (6) and Hunter Goodman (14) to come from a run down and win 8-7 at Chukchansi Park on Tuesday night. Yanquiel Fernandez hit a grand slam (4) in the second inning to get the scoring started.
Diomede Sierra started for Visalia and pitched a scoreless first inning but then was touched up for 6 runs (5 ER) in the second. Fresno starter Jarrod Cande had nearly the same experience, throwing two shutout innings before the Rawhide answered with a five-run third inning. Only two of the runs were charged to Cande.
Both pitchers settled in and put zeroes up for the rest of their outings. Sierra went 4 1/3 and gave up 6 runs (5 ER) on 5 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. (Sierra Pitch Tracker)
Cande went 5 innings and allowed 5 runs (2ER) on 3 hits and 3 walks with 6 Ks. (Cande Pitch Tracker).
The Rawhide rallied for two runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-6 lead on a Junior Franco sac fly and a Deyvison De Los Santos RBI single. But the lead was short-lived as Bernabel and Goodman turned the tables with their solo homers in the bottom of the seventh.
Juan Mejia pitched a perfect eighth inning for the Grizzlies, striking out the side. Then Joel Condreay finished it off with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, notching one strikeout and his sixth save of the season.
With the win, the Grizzlies (33-19) stayed two games ahead of the San Jose Giants (31-21). The Rawhide have dropped three straight and are 16-36. Game two of the six-game series is Wednesday night at 6:50PM.
SCOREBOARD
SAN JOSE – 7
LAKE ELSINORE – 0
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MODESTO – 6
INLAND EMPIRE – 2
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RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 11
STOCKTON – 6
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