Results tagged ‘ Fresno Grizzlies ’
Dollar Beer Night arrives!
Sorry for the lack of posts lately, 51s Today has been working on a big column capping off the first homestand and getting all of you ready for the rest of the season.
However, tonight is the first Dollar Beer Night of the season, so I know a lot of fans are gearing up for a trip to the ballpark. Here’s what to look for before you start seeing double.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Las Vegas
Brett Cecil, P — Cecil did not perform well in his Las Vegas debut, getting knocked out in the third inning in the worst loss of the homestand so far, a 9-4 defeat at the hands of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Saturday. But this is still the same pitcher who was ranked as the top pitching prospect in the Blue Jays’ system before the season, and he could come back tonight to prove it against the weak-hitting Fresno Grizzlies.
Howie Clark, 2B — Clark is batting under .200 for the year, but is turning it on right now. He led off last night’s game with a solo home run and is 3-for-8 in the series so far.
Randy Ruiz, 1B/DH — Ruiz seems to make this list for every game, but he continues to perform and deserve it. In the first two games of the current series, he is 3-for-6 with a home run and three RBI.
Fresno
Ryan Sadowski, P — The Fresno Grizzlies starter made an excellent season debut against Tacoma, giving up only one run and one hit in six inning of work, striking out seven on the way. However, he got the loss in that game and in his subsequent start, when he didn’t pitch as well. Sadowski appeared in 31 games for Fresno last year, eleven as a starter, and led the team with eight wins. This reporter can not respect him because he attended the University of Florida, but it will be interesting to see him start tonight.
Kevin Frandsen, INF — The former big-leaguer is 5-for-9 in the first two games of the series, although all are singles. He has batted second and third so far, so he could cause problems for the 51s by getting on base for the middle of the order.
Matt Downs, 2B — Downs only has two hits in nine at-bats so far in the series, but one of those was the biggest one by the Grizzles so far: A towering blast with the bases loaded against Dirk Hayhurst on Tuesday that put the Grizzlies ahead to stay.
The 51s are 3-3 so far in this eight-game homestand and 1-1 in the four-game series against the Grizzlies. Get out to the ballpark tonight or tomorow to get an eye on this year’s club and come back to 51s Today for a recap of the homestand and preview of the rest of the season ahead.
An end to the beginning
The 51s’ first home series of the season will end tonight. So far, the series has taught us that the myth of Cashman Field as a home for offensive fireworks isn’t based on reality: Sunday’s 3-1 loss was the second game of the series to feature a victor scoring just three runs.
Tonight’s finale was headed for another pitching duel until Rockies’ 2007 postseason hero Franklin Morales was called back up to the big club Monday. Now, 51s ace Wade Miller, the former Astros fireballer, will face an as-yet-determined opponent, most likely a collection of Colorado Springs Sky Sox bullpen arms.
Check back tonight or tomorrow for a recap of this series, the lessons it has taught observers and a preview of the next series, a four-game set against the only team in the Pacific Coast League with a worse record than Las Vegas, the Fresno Grizzlies.
If you’re going to tonight’s game, here are some players to keep an eye on.
LAS VEGAS
Miller – From 2001 through 2002, Wade Miller had a won-loss record of 31-12 with an ERA below 3.50 for the Houston Astros. But arm troubles have left him unable to reach that peak again, so he will use his time with the 51s to prove he still has it in him. Miller’s fastball was always his best pitch, so watch his velocity, placement and movement on that pitch tonight to see if he is rounding back into form.
Angel Sanchez, SS — The 51s’ usual No. 9 hitter almost has his average up to .300 after going 1-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice bunt Sunday and reaching base three times on Saturday.
Aaron Mathews, OF — Nobody performed well offensively for the 51s on Sunday in their dreadful 3-1 defeat, but Mathews played some hard defense in leftfield, making one running catch in foul territory and dropping another only after running into the wall with a ton of force. He’s a gutsy outfielder who will get a lot of cheers from fans this year for his all-out play.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Carlos Gonzalez, OF — He has been on this list for every game in the series, and has shown why. While the 51s have scored only eight runs in the first three games of the series, Gonzalez has scored four and driven in five. He has also played a majestic centerfield, finally showing off his arm on Sunday with a long throw to third that didn’t result in an out but did get some “aaaahs” from the crowd.
Matt Murton, OF — His 2-for-3 day on Sunday put his average back up above .400.
Whoever starts for the Sky Sox — So far in the series, the 51s have scored just three earned runs off of Sky Sox starting piching in 19 innings. With today’s starter still TBD as of now, the 51s may not have a chance to get much of a scouting report on whoever does take the mound and could struggle.
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