FRESNO – The River Cats' dominance against the Fresno Grizzlies at Chukchansi Park is undeniable. The Grizzlies are hoping to change that.
The Grizzlies powered their way to the victory, hitting two home runs in a 4-1 victory over the River Cats before an announced crowd of 10,825 at Chukchansi Park.
"We held up," Grizzlies manager Dan Rohn said. "It's a great rivalry. We battled and they have a good baseball club."
After the River Cats' loss, they are 43-23 at the ballpark. Last season, the River Cats took seven of eight games in Fresno.
Grizzlies third baseman Scott McClain, one of several players from last season's team, hit a two-run home run in the first inning off River Cats starter Dallas Braden.
The River Cats cut into the Grizzlies' 2-0 lead when Cliff Pennington hit a solo homer.
The River Cats looked to capitalize with two outs in the fourth inning and runners on first and third, but Richie Robnett grounded out to first.
After giving up McClain's home run, Braden retired 10 consecutive batters before giving up a single to McClatchy High School product Steve Holm in the fifth inning. Then, Travis Ishikawa followed with a two-run homer to left-center field.
Grizzlies starter Matt Palmer (3-8) allowed two hits and one earned run in six innings to earn the win.
Vinnie Chulk made things interesting in the ninth inning by loading the bases, but got Travis Buck to fly out to end the threat and earn his first save.
"When you play a lot of games that's going to happen," River Cats manager Todd Steverson said. "We left 10 guys on base. That's baseball."
Braden (3-1) pitched eight innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits to take the loss.
Rohn was pleased with the win, but wasn't around at game's end. Rohn charged onto the field in the second inning to argue a call at second base when Casey Rogowski was called safe. Rohn screamed for four minutes before he was tossed.
Following his ejection, Rohn kept arguing, kicked dirt onto the base, then took it with him to the Grizzlies' dugout before throwing it back onto the field.
"It was one of those things," Rohn said. "Put on a show, I guess."
