Grizzlies blow leads, still down Stingers

FRESNO, Cal. — It took the Fresno Grizzlies four times to get it right, but they finally managed to maintain a one-run lead over Salt Lake Friday night. Fresno right fielder Tony Torcato came up with a timely one-run single in the eighth inning, and the Grizzlies held off Salt Lake in the ninth frame to win 4-3.

After blowing three one-run leads during its game against the Stingers, Brandon Villafuerte put the Stingers down in the ninth inning to earn the save.

With the game tied 3-3 in the eighth inning, Torcato's blooper into shallow center field was the difference for Fresno.

Salt Lake starting pitcher Chris Bootcheck pitched to a no decision against the Grizzlies, fanning six batters over six innings. In the process, he became the Stingers' franchise leader in all-time starts at 72.

With the game tied 2-2, the Stingers had a great chance to take the lead in the fifth inning when Brian Gordon and Brian Specht both reached base with no outs. The next three Salt Lake batters all recorded outs, though, and the Stingers paid for their inefficiency in the bottom half of that frame.

Fresno catcher Yamid Haad, batting in the No. 9 position, belted a home run just inside the left field foul pole to put the Grizzlies ahead 3-2.

Fresno also took a one-run lead over the Stingers during the first and second innings. Both times, however, Salt Lake scored once in the ensuing inning to erase the deficit, including a one-run base hit by center Jeff Mathis in the third.

One night after notching three hits and batting in five runners, Stingers first baseman Casey Kotchman struck out three times.