After nearly overcoming an eight-run deficit, the Fresno Grizzlies flirted with the idea of a comeback against the Lake Elsinore Storm in the bottom of the ninth inning.­

Down by two with one out and runners on first and second, Juan Brito stepped up to the plate with the roar of 7,037 fans at Chukchansi Park hoping for a Saturday night walk-off win. Instead, Lake Elsinore pitcher Ben Miller got Brito to ground out into a double play to end the game in an 8-6 loss and extend the Grizzlies’ losing three games.

Fresno could not battle back from the early hot start Lake Elsinore had.

The Storm scored five runs in the second inning against Grizzlies pitcher Brayan Castillo as James Wood crushed a grand slam to left-center field and Jackson Merrill hit a solo shot to left field off the old school scoreboard.

Castillo gave up one more run in the fourth, a double to Lucas Dunn, before being pulled with a 6-0 deficit and replaced by Noah Gotsis. 

Lake Elsinore took advantage of two costly errors from Warming Bernabel and Brito in the fifth inning, by scoring two runs on a fielder’s choice by Tyler Malone and a sacrifice fly by Max Ferguson, extending its lead to 8-0.

Meanwhile on the mound, pitcher Garrett Hawkins carried a perfect game into the fifth inning for the Storm. He finished the night throwing 83 pitches, allowing three hits and an earned run.

Fresno finally found an answer against Hawkins in the home half of the fifth with three-straight hits, but only scored one run on a Braxton Fulford double that scored Bernabel.

The Grizzlies clawed back in the sixth inning as Colorado Rockies’ 2021 first-round draft pick Benny Montgomery laced a two-run triple. Montgomery then scored on a ground out by Fernandez to cut its deficit 8-4.

But that wasn’t the last time Montgomery made noise. 

After Braiden Ward scored on a wild pitch, Montgomery sent a solo home run over the batter’s eye in center field. He ended the night 2 for 5 with three RBIs.

This is the sixth consecutive time the Grizzlies were involved in a game that was settled by two or fewer runs and the 12th overall this season.

Fresno will wrap up the series against the Strom tomorrow in a doubleheader that starts at 12 p.m.