CAPACITY CROWD AT CHUKCHANSI PARK ENERGIZES THE GRIZZLIES TO VICTORY

FRESNO, Calif. — A sold-out crowd of 12,589 watched the Fresno Grizzlies (48-35) trounce the Tacoma Rainiers (41-42) by a score of 10-3 Saturday night at Chukchansi Park. The Grizzlies have won four of their last five games and extend their first-place division lead to seven games. The club also won their first game on the Fourth of July since 2011 and improve to 9-9 all-time on Independence Day. The sellout crowd was the third of the season, which outpaces the amount of sellouts from last season.

Grizzlies relief pitcher Tyson Perez (Hanford native) against Tacoma Rainiers in the 9th inning.

With Fresno down 3-2, the turning point came with two outs in the sixth when Tyler Heineman fouled off three two-strike pitches and eventually singled in the go-ahead runs to hand Fresno a 4-3 lead. Andrew Aplin followed him with an RBI single in almost the exact same spot to build a two-run lead, and then Tony Kemp followed by launching a ball deep into the night sky that just skimmed over the glove of right-fielder Stefen Romero and into the first row of the stands for a three-run homer (2).

Brett Oberholtzer made his first start for Fresno in a non-rehab role and steadied after surrendering three runs in the first. He made it through six quality innings to pick up his second Triple-A win of the season and saw Jose Veras, James Hoyt, and Tyson Perez combine for three scoreless innings.

Tyler Heineman picked up his third hit of the evening with an RBI single in the seventh. It marks his seventh multiHit game with Fresno in what was only his 23rd career Triple-A game. The three RBI for him was a season high.

#9 Second Baseman Nolan Fontana fields a ball then throws to to first for the out against Tacoma Rainiers.

The 10 runs scored tonight marked the 12th time the Grizzlies have put together double-digit runs in a game this season. They’ll be receiving another boost to the high-powered offense as Domingo Santana is scheduled to rejoin the club after being optioned by the Houston Astros. Despite not having appeared in a Triple-A game since June 14th, he still ranks first in the Pacific Coast League in on-base percentage (.444), tied for second in walks (43), third in slugging percentage (.584), fourth in home run per at bat ratio (1 HR/17.91 AB), and sixth in batting average (.320).

The Grizzlies play game two of the series against the Tacoma Rainiers Sunday night at 6:05 PM. The club will hold Military Appreciation Night for Save Mart Sunday, with all present and former military service members being eligible for $6 Field Level Reserve tickets for them and anyone in their group. The deal can be redeemed at the Chukchansi Park Box Office, which opens at 12 PM Sunday.