The Visalia Rawhide (1-0) opened their 2026 season with a 6-3 win over the Fresno Grizzlies (0-1) in front of a sold out crowd of 2,468 fans on Friday night at Valley Strong Ballpark. 

The Rawhide scored their six runs in the first four innings. Enyervert Perez crushed a two run home run over the left field wall in the first frame to open the scoring. Jose Mejia, in his first official at-bat in the D-backs organization, extended the lead in the second by crushing a solo home run.

Visalia added three runs in the fourth. Jakey Jospeha started the big frame with an infield base hit. Pedro Catuy then ripped a single up the middle. Josepha raced to third base on the single and a wild Grizzlies’ throw bounced into the Rawhide dugout and advanced Josepha home.

Catuy came around to score on a wild pitch and Kayson Cunningham capped the inning with an RBI single. Cunningham, the D-backs 2025 1st round draft pick, finished with two hits on the day.

Rawhide starting pitcher Chung-Hsiang Huang tossed four shutout innings with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed.

The Grizzlies tallied a run in the fifth and two scores in the sixth but the Rawhide’s bullpen shut out Fresno over the final three frames.

Raul Garayzar tossed 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts to earn the win in his professional debut. Luke Dotson made his pro debut with a scoreless eighth and Tayler Montiel earned his first pro save by striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning.

The Rawhide lost the subsequent game against the Grizzlies on Saturday.

The Visalia Rawhide (1-2) dropped an Opening Weekend rubber match to the Fresno Grizzlies (2-1) on Sunday afternoon at Valley Strong Ballpark. 

 

Fresno scored six runs in the decisive fourth inning. The Grizzlies totaled five straight hits to start the inning including a bases clearing double.

 

The Rawhide scored in the first inning for a third consecutive game to start the season. JD Dix tripled to right field and Carlos Virahonda followed with a two run homer to left field. 

 

Visalia added their lone additional run in the fourth inning. Jose Mejia singled to right field and Kayson Cunningham scored him with an RBI single.

 

Cunningham, the 18th overall pick in the 2025 draft, capped an excellent weekend with two hits. He finishes the weekend with five hits and three walks for a .571 OBP across the season’s first three games.

 

Rawhide reliever Joe Ariola made his pro debut on the mound with two shutout innings and three strikeouts. Josdanner Suarez added a scoreless frame in relief.

 

Visalia totaled nine hits from eight different players but left 10 runners on base and finished 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

 

The Rawhide headed to San Jose for their first road trip of the season Tuesday against the Giants with a scheduled 6 p.m. first pitch. The series can be streamed on MLB.TV.

 

Visalia returns to Valley Strong Ballpark on Tuesday, April 14 for a six-game set against the Inland Empire 66ers. Rawhide tickets are available through the team’s website and at the stadium box office sponsored by Kaweah Health during business hours.