Storm Rain Late on Umbrella-Less Grizzlies 13-5 Tuesday

July 10, 2024 – California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release

Lake Elsinore, CA – The Fresno Grizzlies (6-10, 44-37) were rained on by the Lake Elsinore Storm (8-8, 40-40) 13-5 Tuesday evening from Lake Elsinore Diamond. Fresno saw their three-game winning streak end and their away losing skid extend to a season-worst seven contests (June 28-July 9). The Grizzlies dropped to 1-9 on the road in the second half, despite going 23-11 in the first part of their 2024 schedule. The 13 runs allowed by Fresno were tied for the most given up to Lake Elsinore since the Grizzlies joined the California League in 2021 (June 9, 2023 at Chukchansi Park). It was also tied for the most runs permitted by the Fresno pitching staff in a game this season (May 16 at Stockton).

The teams played a see-saw contest over the first six innings of action. The Grizzlies clawed ahead 2-0 in the top of the first from an Andy Perez RBI groundout and Felix Tena RBI single. Caleb Hobson (bunt single) and Braylen Wimmer (Storm error) were the run recipients. Lake Elsinore knotted the affair at two in the bottom of the third when Padres #4 overall prospect Leodalis De Vries clobbered a two-run clout to left field. It was the 17-year-old’s fifth homer of the year.

Fresno made it 3-2 in the top of the fifth when Wimmer lifted a sacrifice fly to right, adding Darius Perry. The Storm responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, grabbing a 4-3 lead. Rosman Verdugo slugged a two-RBI double to right, netting Jose Sanabria and J.D. Gonzalez. In the top of the sixth, Perry pushed the Grizzlies in front 5-4 with a two-RBI rocket double down the left field line. Lake Elsinore once again evened the score, this time at five, in the bottom of the sixth. Ethan Long laced a single to center, plating Ryan Wilson.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Storm hailed 10 batters to the dish, recording six runs. It was tied for the most runs given up by the Grizzlies in a single inning this year (1st on June 26 at San Jose). Verdugo and Braedon Karpathios spanked RBI singles to start the onslaught of runs. Then, Jacob Campbell belted a two-RBI double to center, yielding both players listed above. Finally, Long mashed a two-run tater to left-center field, his third wallop of the 2024 campaign. Lake Elsinore supplied two more runs for good measure in the bottom of the eighth. Wilson and Long sprayed RBI singles to center, providing the Storm with nine unanswered runs and the win.

Grizzlies’…