%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201055.1%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201055.1%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%230E203C%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23EC4324%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M58.3%2C200.3h82.4c12.4%2C0%2C21.7-1.5%2C28-4.5c20.2-9.6%2C30.2-26.1%2C30.2-49.3c0-3.2-0.2-9.3-0.6-18.3h-65.1v14.9%0A%09%09c-0.9%2C3.9-3.4%2C5.8-7.5%2C5.8H73.2c-5%2C0-7.5-2.5-7.5-7.5V59.2c0-5%2C2.5-7.5%2C7.5-7.5h52.5c5%2C0%2C7.5%2C2.1%2C7.5%2C6.4v10.8h65.7V55.7%0A%09%09c0-16.3-3.8-28.3-11.4-36.1c-8.8-12.9-24.7-19.3-47.4-19.3H58.9C47%2C0.3%2C38%2C1.7%2C32%2C4.3c-21.3%2C9-32%2C26.1-32%2C51.4v88%0A%09%09c0%2C16.5%2C3.6%2C28.7%2C10.9%2C36.6C20.1%2C193.7%2C35.9%2C200.3%2C58.3%2C200.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22596.6%2C64%20596.6%2C0.8%20400.1%2C0.8%20400.1%2C64%20442.7%2C64%20442.7%2C51.3%20466.1%2C51.3%20466.1%2C148.1%20442.1%2C148.1%20%0A%09%09442.1%2C199.9%20554.8%2C199.9%20554.8%2C148.1%20531.5%2C148.1%20531.5%2C51.4%20554.8%2C51.4%20554.8%2C64%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22942.4%2C148.5%20942.4%2C200.2%201055.1%2C200.2%201055.1%2C148.5%201031.8%2C148.5%201031.8%2C51.2%201055.1%2C51.2%201055.1%2C0.8%20%0A%09%09943.1%2C0.8%20943.1%2C51.3%20966.3%2C51.3%20966.3%2C80%20888.9%2C80%20888.9%2C51.3%20912.6%2C51.3%20912.6%2C0.5%20800.1%2C0.8%20800.1%2C51.4%20823.5%2C51.4%20823.5%2C148.6%20%0A%09%09800.1%2C148.6%20800.1%2C200.1%20912.6%2C200.1%20912.6%2C148.6%20888.9%2C148.6%20888.9%2C116.4%20966.3%2C116.4%20966.3%2C148.5%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22315.5%2C83.9%20299.6%2C34.9%20283.7%2C83.9%20232.2%2C83.9%20273.9%2C114.1%20258%2C163.1%20299.6%2C132.8%20341.3%2C163.1%20%0A%09%09325.4%2C114.1%20367%2C83.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22715.6%2C83.9%20699.7%2C34.9%20683.8%2C83.9%20632.3%2C83.9%20674%2C114.1%20658%2C163.1%20699.7%2C132.8%20741.3%2C163.1%20%0A%09%09725.4%2C114.1%20767.1%2C83.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
The Houston Astros’ Triple-A affiliate Fresno Grizzlies continued their strong play to open the 2018 season.
After taking over first place last week, the Fresno Grizzlies held on to that lead with a strong week. The team posted a 5-2 record thanks to strong performances from both the offense and the pitching staff. The improved pitching is the key to the team’s strong play compared to its 2017 season.
Breaking Out the Brooms
Fresno capped off a four-game sweep of Reno with a 7-6 victory on April 16. Mike Hauschild earned the win, tossing 6.2 innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts. Tim Federowicz had three hits and three RBIs, while J.D. Davis reached base three times and drove in two. Tyler White added a solo blast in the first inning.
Vegas Vacation
The Grizzlies opened their road trip with an 11-4 victory on Tuesday against Las Vegas. Trent Thornton earned the win, surrendering three runs in 5.1 innings. Drew Ferguson homered and tripled, driving in four. Garrett Stubbs had two hits and three RBIs, while Tony Kemp reached base four times and drove in two.
Fresno lost a pitching duel on Wednesday, falling 2-1. Grizzly pitching allowed just one hit, but it was a two-run homer given up by reliever Reymin Guduan. Starter Cy Sneed threw six no-hit innings with four walks and seven strikeouts. White drove in the team’s only run with a solo shot in the sixth.
In the exact opposite of the previous game, the Grizzlies won a slugfest 10-8 on Thursday. Starter Rogelio Armenteros struggled, giving up five runs on eight hits in three innings. Stubbs had four hits and an RBI, while Kemp reached base four times and drove in two. A.J. Reed added a two-run homer, his first of the season. Fresno scored all 10 runs in the final three innings after trailing 7-0.
Fresno capped off a series win with a 12-4 victory on Friday. Starter Kent Emanuel continued his strong start to the season, allowing one run in 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Jack Mayfield homered and drove in four, while Davis added a three-run shot. Kyle Tucker had three hits, raising his average to .258.
We Meet Again
The Grizzlies opened their third series of the season against Reno with a 7-2 win on Saturday. Hauschild turned in another strong outing, allowing two runs in six innings. Kemp notched three hits and three RBIs. Ferguson and Stubbs each added two hits and an RBI.
Fresno’s three-game win streak came to an end on Sunday with a 9-4 loss. Francis Martes gave up six runs on 11 hits in 4.2 innings. Davis reached base three times and drove in a run, while Ferguson and Jon Kemmer each added solo homers.
Player of the Week: Mike Hauschild
After giving up seven runs in his season debut, Hasuchild has now strung together three straight quality outings. He’s gone at least six innings in each of his last three and given up no more than two earned runs.
Even more impressive, he struck out 15 batters and walked none in his two starts this week. His improved performance is one of the main reasons why the Grizzlies find themselves in first place at this point in the season.
Next: Astros will find out soon if they will face Shohei Ohtani
What’s Next
Fresno faces Reno on Monday in the rubber match of the three-game series. Following an off day on Tuesday, the team returns home for a five-game series against Tacoma. Entering Monday, the Grizzlies sit at 13-5, owning a 3.5-game lead in the division.
***Statistics courtesy of MiLB.com***