All Ryan Jensen could say about Tuesday's outing against the Salt Lake Buzz was it wasn't his worst -- that came last summer when the Cottonwood High product made his first appearance at Franklin Covey Field.
He ranks this outing as about fourth worst -- the only thing good about it was the Fresno Grizzlies came from behind to beat the Buzz, 9-7, and he didn't suffer the loss, but he didn't get the win either.After giving up two runs in the first inning on a Mario Valdez homer, Jensen settled in and gave up only one more hit until the fateful fourth inning, when he gave up four runs on four hits after his team had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the inning.
"The fourth inning just killed me. They were hitting good pitches," Jensen said. "I was kind of struggling -- it wasn't one of my best games."
Salt Lake's Jay Canizaro doubled to start the inning and scored one hitter later on a Javier Valentin single. Mike Moriarty then singled, and two hitters later Robin Jennings blooped a single just over the shortstop that scored two more runs. Valdez, who finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, singled in the fourth run of the inning to give the Buzz a commanding 6-3 lead.
Jensen then fired a scoreless fifth inning, his final inning of the night.
He allowed 10 hits, six runs (all earned) while striking out three and walking three.
The Grizzlies got him off the hook for what would have been his first loss of the season by scoring three runs, all coming with two outs, in the top of the fifth to tie the score at 6-6.
Dan Cey doubled home Moriarty, who walked, in the bottom of the eighth to give Salt Lake the lead, but the Buzz bullpen was unable to maintain the lead as Gus Gandarillas, who had three saves in three tries, allowed three runs in the top of the ninth in suffering his first loss of the season.
"We never really got control of the game," said Buzz manager Phil Roof. "We stayed close and went ahead. That's what happens when you don't control the game -- you end up losing."
Buzz starter Scott Randall entered the game with a 1-0 record and 0.00 ERA, but gave up six runs, all earned, in 4 2/3 innings. Fresno's Josh Davis got the win, while Scott Linebrink earned the save with the scoreless ninth.
"We're supposed to win when we score seven runs, but we didn't close it out," Roof said.
The Buzz (3-3) had 11 base hits, but the Grizzlies had 18 hits, including two homers by Terrell Lowery, who finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs.
Jennings, after starting the year 0-12 before going 2-for-3 Monday night, went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs for Salt Lake.
The third game of the four-game series continues Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. with Salt Lake's Dan Perkins (0-1, 1.69) squaring off against Fresno's Ken Ray (0-0, 13.50) at Franklin Covey Field.
BEE LINES: Salt Lake's Chad Allen, who injured his right knee Monday night, was placed on the disabled list Tuesday . . . Before catcher Javier Valentin threw out Fresno's Michael Byas in the third inning trying to steal second base, opposing base runners were a perfect 6-for-6 . . . Attendance was announced at 5,103.