The Fresno Grizzlies wrapped up their regular season in style. Rookie sensation Tanner Thach powered the offense, and Manuel Olivares delivered a dominant pitching performance, leading Fresno to a 7-3 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
With this victory, Fresno finished the campaign with 70 wins—the second-best mark in the California League. They’re rolling into the postseason opener against the San Jose Giants with plenty of momentum.
Thach’s Breakout Performance Steals the Show
Tanner Thach, in his first pro season, left quite an impression in Fresno’s finale. The 21-year-old hammered his first two pro home runs in the same game, showing off both raw power and a bit of clutch magic.
Thach ended the afternoon 3-for-5 with four RBIs. He pretty much carried the offense when every run counted.
Calaz Adds Spark to Early Lead
Thach wasn’t the only one making noise. Robert Calaz played a huge role early on, blasting his 10th homer of the season and crossing the plate three times.
His energy in the lineup set the tone, and Rancho Cucamonga just couldn’t dig out of the hole.
Pitching Depth Shines Before Postseason
Fresno’s pitching staff kept the Quakes in check early and gave the offense room to work. Manuel Olivares tossed five shutout innings, scattering five hits and striking out four.
He pitched with real poise, and that’s exactly why Fresno’s rotation looks so dangerous heading into the playoffs.
Handling Rancho Cucamonga’s Late Push
The Quakes made things interesting in the seventh, putting up three runs to close the gap. Fresno’s bullpen stepped up under pressure and shut things down over the final innings.
“It was a good test for us,” one Fresno coach said. Holding firm late in tight games might just matter most in October.
Late Offensive Surge Seals Victory
Even when momentum shifted, Fresno found a way to grab it right back. In the eighth, Thach smashed his second home run over the wall, stretching the lead to 6-2.
The Grizzlies kept adding on—Kelvin Hidalgo chipped in a ninth-inning sacrifice fly for a little extra cushion. Rancho Cucamonga never really threatened again.
A Series for the Record Books
This three-game set was all Grizzlies. Over the series, Fresno’s lineup exploded for:
- 67 total hits
- 54 runs scored
- 9 home runs
All three numbers set new season highs for any series this year.
Milestones and Fielding Notes
In the middle of all the hitting, Kevin Fitzer notched his 100th hit of the season—a pretty cool milestone that shows how steady he’s been at the plate. Fresno’s defense mixed in some highlight plays and a couple of miscues, committing two errors but also coming through with timely outs when it counted.
Postseason Outlook: Momentum on Their Side
With 70 wins, Fresno owns the second-best record in the California League. The team looks like they’re peaking just in time for the playoffs.
Their first playoff challenge arrives Tuesday night at Chukchansi Park. They’ll host the San Jose Giants in Game 1 of a best-of-three series that feels like it could go either way.
Rookie breakthroughs and steady veteran leadership have shaped the Fresno Grizzlies this season. Their pitching has stayed balanced, giving them a shot at a deep playoff run.
If their regular-season finale means anything, they’re showing up with both swagger and substance. This is the stage where baseball legacies are made, right?
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Here is the source article for this story: Thach, Calaz Smash Grizzlies to 70th Win
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