For the first time in three years, the Grizzlies reached the Minor League Baseball Single A North divisional round playoffs. This time against division rival, The San Jose Giants. Although the Grizzlies lost game one, they still have a chance to advance in the playoffs as it is a best-of-three series.
The Fresno Grizzlies will travel to Excite Ballpark to face the Giants for game two on Thursday, Sept.11, and game three on Friday Sept.12.
In game one the pitchers were evenly matched up, it was tied 0-0 through the first four innings. The first score was made by the Giants at the top of the fifth inning. By the end of the fifth inning, the Giants led 2-0.
As it was getting close to the end of the game with the Grizzlies still down 2-0 to the Giants, the fans were still in the stands and cheering on the Grizzlies to try to rally them back into the game.
Jonathan Bravo, the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Grizzlies, was beyond proud of the community for supporting the Grizzlies this season.
“Getting 6,000 fans out to a Single A game on a Tuesday night, you know, is a feat that not a lot of communities can accomplish,” Bravo said. “I argue that no other community in the United States can accomplish.”
Making the playoffs compared to how they looked in April is an accomplishment not only for the Grizzlies but for the community as well. Even though the Grizzlies lost game one 2-0 on Tuesday Sept. 9.
“There is no better group of guys with the passion that this team has and the energy that this team shows. We still have two more games in this series,” Bravo said.
No matter the results of how the Grizzlies season could have gone, the support from the fans and the Fresno community is what keeps the Grizzlies Spirit going.
If the Grizzlies win these next two games against the Giants, the Grizzlies will play in the championship against the winner of the South Divisional Round Playoffs. In the championship round, the Grizzlies will host game one on Sunday Sept. 14 at 5:05 p.m. “Fans can expect more of the same, we are looking ahead to having fireworks at the game once again,” Bravo said.
