The Fresno Grizzlies clinched the first-half title in the North division with a 4-2 win over the Modesto Nuts on Tuesday night at Chukchansi Park. Despite San Jose’s 10-8 win over Stockton, the Grizzlies (41-24) have a two-game lead with one to play and are going to the playoffs in back-to-back years.
The Grizzlies only had five hits, but Warming Bernabel and Benjamin Sems drove in two runs apiece.
Case Williams (W, 4-2) went five innings in a workman-like effort, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts. The 2020 fourth-round draft pick gave up a leadoff triple to Jonatan Clase to start the game but stranded him. He had second and third with no outs in the second inning and ended up giving up two runs.
The third inning saw the leadoff man aboard once again, this time on a double by Edwin Arroyo. Williams got out of that with no damage and then had a 1-2-3 fourth inning.
More drama in the fifth with the first two runners aboard on an error and a Clase single, but the Nuts were kept off the board with some help from a runner being thrown out at the plate. Williams’ night ended with a 3-2 lead having thrown 82 pitches, 55 for strikes.
The first half ends on Thursday night as the six-game series continues at 6:50PM.
SCOREBOARD
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 24
LAKE ELSINORE – 9
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SAN JOSE – 10
STOCKTON – 8 10 Innings
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VISALIA – 0
INLAND EMPIRE – 0 5th Inning, Suspended for weather
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Game will resume Thursday with the regularly scheduled game to follow
