Grizzlies batter Baby Cakes to open series, 9-2

METAIRIE – The Fresno Grizzlies plated six runs in the sixth inning to pull away to a 9-2 win over the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Wednesday evening.

Fresno (39-26) got to starter, Pablo Lopez for three runs to set the tone in the top of the first inning. Drew Ferguson reached on an error and Kyle Tucker singled. Tyler White followed and cranked the first of two Grizzlies homers on the night.

Lopez (1-1) settled in after that in his first start in front of the Big Easy crowd. Lopez allowed just one baserunner over the next three innings. In the fifth, Lopez got out of a bases loaded, no-out jam by retiring the 3-4-5 hitters in order on a line out to third, a fly out to shallow center, and a ground out to short. Lopez went five innings and allowed three runs (two earned). He notched five strikeouts.

The Cakes got on the board in the fifth. After Fresno starter, Brock Dykxhoorn allowed just one hit over the first inning, Scott Van Slyke went yard for his fifth homer of the season to cut the deficit to 3-1. Dykxhoorn (1-0) bounced back though to strike out the next two batters and induce a fly out to center. He pitched 6.2 innings and struck out nine while limiting New Orleans (30-35) to just two hits and a run.

Fresno delivered the deciding blow in the top of the sixth. The Grizzlies saw five consecutive batters register hits that brought in three runs. The scoring spree was capped off when AJ Reed parked a home run to center to extend the lead to 9-1. Fresno sent all nine batters to the plate in the six-run frame.

Cristhian Adames extended his hitting streak to six games with a 2-for-4 night. Van Slyke reached twice with his fifth inning blast and a walk. Sean Burnett and Jose Quijada combined for 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

The series between the Grizzlies and Baby Cakes continues on Thursday at 7 p.m. Jarlin Garcia will throw for New Orleans. Cy Sneed will get the ball for Fresno.