By Tom Price Jr.
A first half of the season filled with struggles ended on a high note for Exeter product Adam Pettyjohn.
The 26-year-old southpaw threw eight innings of six-hit ball for the Fresno Grizzlies against the Sacramento River Cats on July 7. Fresno won the game 7-2.
Pettyjohn allowed two runs on six hits to improve his season record to 3-6. In the process he also lowered his ERA to 5.42.
Jason Ellison, Brian Dallimore, Damon Minor and Dave Doster all homered to lead the Grizzlies past the River Cats. The River Cats have dropped their last two games, but remain atop the Pacific Coast League at 54-33. Fresno improved to 36-51 with the win.
Ellison started the home run barrage with a solo blast in the third and was followed by Dallimore's homer in the fourth. In the sixth, Minor and Doster went back-to-back to give the Grizzlies a 6-0 advantage. Ellison added an RBI single in the inning to cap the scoring for Fresno. He finished the game 3- for-5 with a pair of runs scored.
Pettyjohn has pitched in 21 games in the first half of the season has allowed 48 runs in 79.2 innings. He has struck out 43 while walking 25 and has surrendered seven homeruns.
Pettyjohn is expected to take the mound again on Thursday at home against Tacoma.
