The Fresno Grizzlies' losing streak reached a season-high five games after the Las Vegas 51s completed their sweep of the Grizzlies with a 6-5 decision on Tuesday at Chukchansi Park.
The Grizzlies held a 5-3 advantage entering the top of the eighth, but two home runs, one by Brandon Hicks to lead off the inning and another via Kirk Nieuwenhuis' second roundtripper of the game, catapulted the 51s into the lead, 6-5. Grizzlies reliever Dan Runzler, who entered at the top of the eighth, surrendered both homers and suffered the loss.
The Grizzlies (29-31) drop to two games below .500 for the first time this season after Tuesday's loss.
Fresno at one point had a three-run lead when Francisco Peguero and Chris Dominguez drove in a run with a single and sacrifice fly, respectively, in the sixth inning to make it 4-1.
The 51s responded quickly, though, in the seventh with a pair of runs. Fresno starting pitcher Boof Bonser allowed a leadoff single to Brian Bixler and walked Nieuwenhuis with one out before he was removed from the game. Grizzlies reliever Jake Dunning spelled Bonser and inherited both of his runners. The first batter Dunning faced, Collin Cowgill, hit an infield single. Bixler attempted to score on the play only to be thrown out by first baseman Chris Dominguez at home. A fielding error by third baseman Juan Perez and a single from Wilmin Flores allowed two runs to score later in the inning, trimming the Grizzlies' lead to 4-3.
Fresno answered with its own run in the bottom half of the seventh when Kensuke Tanaka hit his second sacrifice fly of the game. Tanaka's fly ball scored Perez, who led off the inning with a single and advanced to second and third base with a pair of stolen bases.
Tanaka tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning with his first sac fly to score Carter Jurica. Tanaka finished the game 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored.
Bonser took the no-decision despite allowing two runs, one earned, and scattering six hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Nieuwenhuis went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored. His first roundtripper led off the game.
Gonzalez Germen struck out the side in the ninth to earn his third save of the season. Josh Edgin did not allow a run in 1 2/3 innings in his first win of the year.
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