FRESNO GRIZZLIES 2021 GAME notes LOW-A AFFILIATE of the COLORADO ROCKIES Follow us on social media @FresnoGrizzlies Media Relations Coordinator: Stephen Rice ([email protected]) FRESNO GRIZZLIES (64-36, 1ST PLACE LOW-A WEST NORTH) VS MODESTO NUTS (56-44, 3RD PLACE LOW-A WEST NORTH) RHP TONY LOCEY (2-0, 2.82) VS. RHP SAM CARLSON (5-3, 4.41) SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 * 6:50 PM (PT) * CHUKCHANSI PARK * FRESNO, CA GAME #101 * HOME GAME #53 * NIGHT GAME #86 RADIO: KRDU 1130 AM (DOUG GREENWALD) / TV: FOX 26.2 (DAN TAYLOR) grizz gamers UPCOMING GAMES AND PROBABLE PITCHERS Previous Game AUGUST 29, 2021 VS MODESTO NUTS (SEATTLE MARINERS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 5:05 PM PT Nuts 4, Grizzlies 1 (8/26/21) RHP Jimmy Kingsbury (1-0, 2.16) vs RHP Mike Ruff (5-2, 4.83) Win: Mercedes (6-4) AUGUST 31, 2021 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 7:05 PM PT RHP Anderson Amarista (5-4, 6.60) vs TBD Loss: Kitchen (1-4) Save: N/A SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 7:05 PM PT RHP Case Williams (1-1, 4.00) vs TBD Time: 2:22 SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 7:05 PM PT Attendance: 4,380 LHP Austin Kitchen (1-4, 5.15) vs TBD Grizzlies vs Nuts 2021 fres-notes WE LOVE LOCEY: Over his last two starts against the Visalia Rawhide, Tony Locey went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA while picking up career-highs in strikeouts and innings pitched. On 2021 8-8 August 17, Locey and a trio of relievers combined on a three-hit shutout with the righty going five frames. Locey permitted two hits and three walks while fanning six. He would also start the series finale on August 22, exceeding his previous outing. Locey dazzled for a career-high seven innings, allowing two runs (zero earned) on one hit, two walks and 10 punchouts, also a professional best. Locey retired the final 17 batters he faced and his seven frames tied a season-high for a Grizzlies pitcher. His 10 strikeouts were also one shy of the Fresno at Fresno 4-6 2021 high-mark. Locey has allowed three earned runs over his last five starts with two of those games ending in a shutout. RUNNING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Eddy Diaz swiped one bag Friday night against the Modesto Nuts, giving him 43 stolen bases with the Grizzlies on the season. Diaz is now at Modesto 4-2 in sole possession of second place on the Grizzlies’ franchise single-season steals list. Up next on the list is Tyler Graham, who swiped 60 bases back in 2011. Diaz’s 43 Fresno stolen bases are also more than five full season Minor League teams (Rochester, Las Vegas, Portland, Harrisburg and Reading) and his 54 swipes between two levels are more than 18 full 8/24 vs Modesto W 12-9 season Minor League teams. RUNNING WILD: The Fresno Grizzlies have been running wild on the basepaths this season. Fresno currently leads the Low-A West and are tied for third in all of Minor League Base- ball with 188 stolen bases. The Grizzlies franchise record for the most team steals in a single season is 209, set back in 2011. Fresno also has three players that are ranked in the Top 8/25 vs Modesto L 6-3 10 of the Low-A West leaderboard and one player in the Top Two of Minor League Baseball in swipes. Rockies #30 prospect Eddy Diaz ranks first with 43 stolen bases in 51 attempts (Grizzlies, Low-A West) and ranks second in all of Minor League Baseball with 54 swipes in 67 tries (Spokane and Fresno). Rockies top prospect Zac Veen is tied for third with 31 steals 8/26 vs Modesto L 5-1 in 47 attempts and Bladimir Restituyo is eighth with 25 swipes in 30 tries, all with the Grizzlies. MODESTO MINI FACTS: The Modesto Nuts and Fresno Grizzlies are once again in the same league for the first time since 1988, when both teams played in the California League. Modesto was affiliated with the Athletics and were named the A’s while the Grizzlies were known as the Fresno Suns and were independent. Now, the Nuts are associated with the 8/27 vs Modesto L 4-1 Seattle Mariners organization (affiliated with the Colorado Rockies prior to Mariners) while the Grizzlies are now partnered with the Rockies. The two cities are 96 miles away from one another if you drive by car, following the CA 99 route. Fresno and Modesto are one hour and 32 minutes apart, if you drive non-stop.The halfway point between both cities is Planada, 8/28 vs Modesto 6:50 PM California. This is the third series this year and the second at Chukchansi Park for the two clubs. CHUKCHANSI PARK CYCLE: Tuesday evening against the Modesto Nuts, Rockies top prospect Zac Veen hit the first Fresno cycle in Chukchansi Park history. After an RBI single in his first at-bat, Veen would step up to the plate in the bottom of the second with the bases-loaded. Veen uncorked on a pitch and drove it to deep left field, notching the first grand slam 8/29 vs Modesto 5:05 PM of his young career. The longball was his team-leading 15th of the year and second grand slam recorded by a Fresno batter this season (Grant Lavigne). Veen doubled in the sixth, leaving just a triple on the cycle checklist. In the bottom of the eighth, Veen came to the plate, looking to give the Grizzlies some insurance runs. On the first pitch he saw, Veen yanked the ball down the right field line and hustled into third, completing the cycle. The triple gave Veen a 4-for-5 and seven RBI contest, while etching his name as the fifth Fresno player to hit for the cycle (Nate Schierholtz 5/26/08 at Las Vegas, Joe Borchard 5/3/10 at Colorado Springs, J.D. Davis 5/17/18 at El Paso and Derek Fisher 6/1/18 at Albuquerque). Veen’s seven RBI were the most among the five cycles and the only grand slam. The last cycle hit in the minor leagues came on August 8, 2021 when Je’Von Ward of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers NUTS STAFF (Brewers) hit for one against the Beloit Snappers. Since 2005, there have been 16 MiLB cycles where a grand slam was included. The most recent one came on July 31, 2019 when Jim Haley of the Montgomery Biscuits hit for one against the Chattanooga Lookouts. In MLB history, only nine players have recorded a grand slam as a part of their cycle. The most recent grand slam cycle was Bengie Molina with the Texas Rangers on July 16, 2010 against the Boston Red Sox. Eric Farris Manager: PLAYOFFS?!: Prior to the start of the 2021 season, it was certain that there would be no playoffs in Minor League Baseball, thanks to the ongoing global pandemic. In an article released by Baseball America in early July, they confirmed that Major League Baseball will implement a “revised” playoff plan, allowing each league to crown a champion with a playoff 56-44 (.560) series. The playoffs will be shortened to a single series, that features the top two teams (by record), regardless of division. Currently, the Grizzlies are first among the eight teams in the Low-A West, which would place them into the playoffs against the San Jose Giants. Both the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and Modesto Nuts trail the Grizzlies and Giants in the playoff 1st season with Modesto race. Pitching Coach: Nathan Bannister ROARING ON THE ROAD: The Grizzlies have won 16 of their last 21, 18 of their last 24 and 24 of their last 32 road games. In that span, the Grizzlies pitching staff have tossed five Hitting Coach: Rob Benjamin shutouts and allowed three runs or fewer 20 times (18-2 record). Over eight away series, the Grizzlies have yet to lose one of them, picking up five wins and three ties. WEAR THE BEAR: Scarlet (34-19), Cream (9-4), Black & Gold (8-2), Fresno Tacos (2-1), Gray (8-7), Specialty Promo (2-1), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 1-2), Red Coach: Mike Ahmed Pants (5-3). Coach: Geoff Jimenez LOW-A WEST NORTH STANDINGS bear bites Strength Coach: Cesar Velazquez TEAM W/L GAMES BACK RECORD: 64-36 • HOMESTAND: 1-3 Trainer: Dan LaBerry LAST 10: 4-6 • AUGUST: 12-11 Broadcaster: Keaton Gillogly Fresno 64-36 --- HOME: 32-20 • ROAD: 32-16 San Jose 63-37 1.0 CURRENT WIN STREAK: 0 LONGEST WIN STREAK: 11 (July 9-21) Recent Transactions: Modesto 56-44 8.0 CURRENT HOME WIN STREAK: 0 LONGEST HOME WIN STREAK: 7 (June 1-15) Stockton 39-60 24.5 8/26: OF Robby Martin: CURRENT ROAD WIN STREAK: 1 (August 22) Assigned to Fresno from ARZ LOW-A WEST south STANDINGS LONGEST ROAD WIN STREAK: 9 (July 9-18) complex LONGEST CURRENT HIT STREAK: 10, Zac Veen TEAM W/L GAMES BACK GRIZZLIES HOME RUN LEADER: 15, Zac Veen 8/25: OF Jack Yalowitz: GRIZZLIES VS. LEFT-HANDED STARTERS: 17-9 Released Rancho Cuca. 54-45 --- GRIZZLIES VS. RIGHT-HANDED STARTERS: 47-27 8/24: RHP Mike Ruff: Inland Empire 50-49 4.0 GRIZZLIES VS. LOW-A WEST NORTH DIVISION: 34-24 Reinstated off IL GRIZZLIES VS. LOW-A WEST SOUTH DIVISION: 30-12 8/24: LHP Sam Weatherly: Lake Elsinore 43-56 11.0 TEAM PITCHING (LOW-A WEST RANK): 3.72 ERA (1st) Placed on IL Visalia 29-71 25.5 TEAM BATTING (LOW-A WEST RANK): .270 AVG (2nd), 82 HR (T-4th) fresno’s STARTING PITCHER - RHP tony locey (2-0, 2.82) tony locey quick facts entering today’s game HEIGHT: 6-3 LAST TIME OUT: August 22 at Visalia (W): 7.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K (START) WEIGHT: 239 23rd game, 8th start of season THROWS: R vs.