Hoppers Nab Third Straight Behind Slugging Stanton, Curry
Martinez Pitches Into the Seventh as Hoppers Take Series Finale, 8-3
Hagerstown, Md. – Greensboro manager Edwin Rodriguez said there would be days like this; and today it seemed everything was clicking in unison for the Hoppers as they picked up their third consecutive victory, 8-3, over Hagerstown.
The pitching was solid.
Hoppers starter Cristhian Martinez allowed two first inning runs but followed with five-plus scoreless innings of work to improve to 3-1 on the season.
The hitting followed suit.
Right fielder Mike Stanton and second baseman Ryan Curry collected half of Greensboro’s 12 hits and drove in six of the Hoppers’ eight runs.
And everything else just fell into place.
Down 2-1, the Hoppers used a fifth inning, two-run home run by Curry to take a 3-2 lead that Greensboro never relinquished. Greensboro only added to its lead with sixth and eighth inning home runs by Stanton.
Greensboro’s home run total matched its season high and the Hoppers continued to look like one of the best road teams in the league, improving to 12-5 away from NewBridge Bank Park.
The bullpen continued to be a bright spot for Rodriguez’s young squad. Corey Madden relieved Martinez in the seventh inning with the bases loaded, and despite walking in a run, struck out three of the six batters he faced; Madden then gave way to Garrett Parcell who faced just three batters in the home-half of the ninth to secure the Greensboro win.
*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****