Solid pitching, late offensive burst lift Baby Cakes past Fresno

METAIRIE – As it was in the series opener, the sixth inning proved pivotal as the New Orleans Baby Cakes used a late offensive spurt and limited the Fresno Grizzlies to one run on six hits in a 4-1 victory on Thursday evening.

After Fresno struck first in the top of the sixth, New Orleans quickly responded with four runs over the next two frames. Three of those tallies came in the bottom of the sixth, which propelled the Cakes to their first lead of the night.

The Cakes loaded the bases against starter, Cy Sneed (6-3) with one out on singles by Austin Dean, Magneuris Sierra, and Tomas Telis. Then Scott Van Slyke doubled to deep left to drive in a pair of runs. New Orleans added onto the lead later in the frame on a two-out RBI single by Rafael Ortega.

New Orleans (31-35) pushed another run across in the seventh when the first Fresno error of the night brought Dean in from second. The pitching helped put the exclamation point on the game. Odrisamer Despaigne (1-0) picked up his first decision of the season. He allowed one run on three hits over 2.2 innings. Javy Guerra slammed the door for his first save of the year. He threw the last two innings and retired six of seven batters faced with three strikeouts.

In his second Triple-A start and first in New Orleans, Jarlin Garcia limited the Grizzlies to three hits over 4.1 scoreless innings. He also recorded four strikeouts and allowed one walk. Despaigne was first call out of the bullpen and struck out the first batter he faced. After a walk put runners on first and second, Despaigne rung up Kyle Tucker looking to keep the game scoreless.

Fresno (39-27) scratched their only run by pulling a two-out rally. With two outs and the bases clean, Fresno strung together three consecutive singles. The third off Nick Tanielu’s bat drove in Tim Federowicz to score the first and only run of the game for the road side.

Sierra, Dean, and Telis recorded two hits each in the victory. Dean and Sierra also added a stolen base to their lines. Cito Culver reached twice with a walk. Van Slyke has picked up three RBIs over the first two games of the series. Cakes pitchers combined to record 11 strikeouts in the victory.

The rubber match will commence on Friday at 7 p.m. Zac Gallen will get the ball for New Orleans and Mike Hauschild is scheduled to start for Fresno.