Fresno Report April 17-23: Grizzlies get back on track

Houston Astros Triple-A affiliate Fresno Grizzlies rebounded from a tough week by going 4-3.

After going just 2-5 the previous week, the Fresno Grizzlies rebounded this week with four wins in seven games. They started off losing two games, but snapped out of their funk and won four of their next five. At 9-9 overall, they currently sit third in their division.

The Skid Continues

Salt Lake finished off a three-game sweep of the Grizzlies on April 17 with a 6-2 victory. Starter David Martinez took the loss, giving up four runs on 10 hits in six innings. Preston Tucker hit a two-run homer and Jon Kemmer was 2-for-3.

Fresno started its eight-game homestand with its fifth straight loss, falling 6-1 to Las Vegas on Tuesday. Starter Keegan Yuhl surrendered six runs in five innings to take the loss. Tucker and Derek Fisher posted two hits apiece.

Back on Track

The Grizzlies snapped their skid on Wednesday with a 1-0 walkoff victory over Las Vegas. Kemmer walked with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, went to third on an errant pickoff throw and scored on a Colin Moran single. Starter Brady Rodgers only went 4.1 innings as the bullpen picked up the slack. Fresno placed Rodgers on the 7-day disabled list Sunday.

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Fresno broke out the bats Thursday, defeating Las Vegas 10-3. A.J. Reed was 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, Moran and Kemmer had two hits and two RBIs apiece and Tucker and Fisher each had three hits. Edison Frias earned his first win of the season, giving up two runs in five innings.

After trailing 5-0 on Friday, the Grizzlies came back to win 8-5, taking three of four from Las Vegas. Reed hit a three-run homer in the sixth, then Teoscar Hernandez blasted a grand slam to take the lead in the eighth. Starter Brian Holmes settled for a no-decision, giving up five runs in four innings.

Fresno lost a back-and-forth affair to Salt Lake 6-5 on Saturday in the opener of a four-game set. Starter Francis Martes struggled, giving up four runs on eight hits in three innings. Fisher hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth before Salt Lake responded against reliever Ryan Thompson. Tucker and Hernandez had two hits apiece.

The Grizzlies evened the series against Salt Lake on Sunday, winning 5-2. Moran had four RBIs, including the go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth. Ashur Tolliver earned the win in relief of Martinez, who gave up two runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings.

Players of the Week: Preston Tucker and Colin Moran

Another tough call this time, so I’ll recognize both. Tucker reached base safely in all six games he played this week, raising his average from .314 to .364. He had three multi-hit games and five RBIs and has been on fire the last week and a half. He’s hitting .444 over his last 10 games.

Moran had two big time hits this week — Wednesday’s walkoff and the go-ahead blast on Sunday. He reached base safely in six of seven games, driving in seven runs and raising his average from .225 to .266.

Next: Astros Weekend News and Notes

What’s Next

The Grizzlies finish up their homestand with the final two games against Salt Lake on Monday and Tuesday. They have an off day on Wednesday before starting a four-game series at Reno.

***Results and statistics courtesy of MiLB.com***