The Fresno Grizzlies returned to Chukchansi Park Friday night after going 6-2 on an eight game road trip. The San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate is now 32-15, which is currently the best record in the Pacific Coast League. The Grizzlies are one of four professional baseball teams with 32 or more wins in the 2012 season. Over the last eight road games, Fresno had 93 hits and became the only team in the PCL to have over 500 hits, with 507 on the season.
Several roster moves were made prior to Friday nights game. Conor Gillaspie, Matt Yourkin and Brock Bond were all placed on the 7-day disabled list. Brock Bond has an injured left thumb. Conor Gillaspie has a groin issue that he has been dealing with for a few days and Matt Yourkin is on the disabled list with turf toe on his left foot.
Starting pitcher Andrew Kown was placed on the temporary inactive list to join his wife for the birth of their first child. Catcher Tyler LaTorre was transferred from San Jose after filling in for catcher Andrew Susac, who was suspended four games for throwing a punch during a benches clearing brawl last weekend.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Shawn Sanford is making a spot start in the place of Andrew Kown. Sanford is 4-4 with a 4.99 ERA in nine starts for High-A San Jose. He has allowed 29 runs to score in 48.2 innings, while striking out 19.
No word on whether Brad Penny will join Fresno for this four-game homestand. They do head to Sacramento next, so he could meet them there before heading to San Francisco. According to Pennys Twitter account, he will be in Fresno this weekend, but manager Bob Mariano hasnt heard anything yet.
On Sunday afternoon, Giants prospect Nick Noonan broke the Fresno Grizzlies franchise record for runs batted in after knocking in eight against the Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express. John Bowker held down the record previously with seven RBI in 2009.
The infielder went 4-for-5, with two homers, a double and a single on Sunday. Noonan delivered early, slapping a single into center field to score Francisco Peguero and Todd Linden in the first inning. His first home run of the season was a two-run shot off of Martin Perez in the third inning. A few innings later with the bases loaded and one out, Noonan launched the ball over the right field fence for a grand slam. He wasnt done for the day just yet. Noonan led off the top of the eighth inning with a double to center field.
News
In 37 games with the Fresno Grizzlies, Noonan is hitting .326 (44-for-135) with 10 doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 26 RBI. He is hitting .571 with runners in scoring position and two outs. Noonan splits playing time between shortstop and third base, but spent the last four games at second base.
Starting pitcher Eric Hacker leads the PCL with seven wins, after Fresnos 12-5 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes Thursday night. Hacker allowed six hits and one run to score in seven innings while striking out just one batter.
Heath Hembree made three relief appearances on the eight-game road trip. He pitched three innings, giving up two runs and striking out two. He is currently 1-1 with eight saves and a 4.41 ERA in 17 games.
The first place Fresno Grizzlies will be home for four games against the Colorado Spring Sky Sox before heading up Highway 99 to face their division rivals -- the Sacramento River Cats.