ONTARIO, Calif. – The Fresno Grizzlies scored five runs in the first inning and never let up, including Cristian Arguelles’ first Grizzlies homer, slugging past the Ontario Tower Buzzers 17-2 Friday night at ONT Field.
It was Fresno's second straight rout of Ontario, following Thursday's 12-2 win, and the Grizzlies have now outscored the Tower Buzzers 29-4 over the two games, with 38 runs in the series.
Fresno sent 11 batters to the plate in a five-run first that was built almost entirely on free passes. Ashly Andujar led off with a single and stole second, and Roynier Hernandez and Wilder Dalis walked to load the bases.
Derek Bernard grounded a sharp ball towards second and reached on a fielder's choice that a throwing error by second baseman Javier Herrera turned into two runs, scoring Andujar and Hernandez.
After a stolen base and a strikeout, Ronny Ugarte, Juan Castillo, Landyn Vidourek and Andujar walked in order — with Ontario changing pitchers in the middle of the string — forcing home a run apiece to make it 5-0 before the end of the inning.
Ontario got its only runs of the night in the fifth. A single and a double to put runners in scoring position, and Ching-Hsien Ko's two-run single brought both home, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
Fresno answered immediately in the sixth. Andujar reached on a fielding error and advanced on a wild pitch, and Hernandez singled him to third before Arguelles turned on a Luis Gamez pitch for a three-run homer just to the right ofcenter — his first in Single-A — that made it 8-2.
The Grizzlies broke the game open with a five-run seventh.
Bernard walked and Sebastian Blanco singled him to second, and Ugarte's RBI single and a Castillo walk loaded the bases again.
Vidourek's two-run single, an RBI groundout by Andujar and another by Hernandez pushed the lead to 13-2 before Arguelles grounded out to end the frame.
The Grizzlies weren't finished. With Ontario turning to position player Javier Herrera on the mound in the ninth, Fresno loaded the bases again on hits by Castillo and Andujar and a walk by Vidourek, and Hernandez's three-run single, aided by a fielding error, made it 16-2.
Bernard's groundout brought home the 17th and final run of the game.
Vidourek, Hernandez and Arguelles each drove in three runs, while Andujar scored three times and reached base four times. Castillo went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Fresno finished with 12 hits and 13 walks as a team, going 7-for-21 with runners in scoring position.
Bryson Van Sickle started and worked five innings to earn the win, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out seven.
In his first start with the Grizzlies, Van Sickle allowed one single in each of the first four innings but worked around it using command and a deceptive change of speed to rack up six of his seven K’s.
Easton Marks closed it out with four scoreless innings of relief to earn the save.
Fresno’s pitching duo combined for 10 strikeouts and held Ontario to its two fifth inning runs the rest of the way.
The Grizzlies now move into sole possession of first place in the North after losses by San Jose and Stockton in the South, the first time they’ve owned the top spot alone this half.
Fresno will look to keep the momentum going Saturday night when they turn to the debuting Sandy Ozuna. The 20-year-old makes his Grizzlies debut with first pitch scheduled for 6:50pm at ONT Field.
The Grizzlies broadcast will begin at 5:50pm on FresnoGrizzlies.com/listen with the Chukchansi Gold Pregame Show.
ABOUT THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES
The Fresno Grizzlies are a proud affiliate of the Colorado Rockies organization. The club advanced to the California League playoffs in 2025 and continues to post some of Minor League Baseball's highest attended games. The 2026 season marks the Grizzlies' 25th year in Downtown Fresno.