Hoppers scorch Suns

With Many a Thwack, Grasshoppers Scorch Suns
Greensboro Pounds Out Season-High 17 Hits in 14-7 Victory over Hagerstown

Hagerstown, Md. – Monday’s game against Hagerstown could be classified as a pitchers battle; although the 14-7 Greensboro victory is probably best described as the Grasshoppers taking out some built up frustration after going 3-7 in its last 10 games.

If you’re taking the side of the pitchers battle, it was a battle of who would give up the fewest runs over the longest stretch of time as neither starter went very deep into the game and their reliever counterparts didn’t fare much better.

On the other side of the fence, where Greensboro sent two balls on the night, the Grasshoppers pounded out a season-high 17 hits and collected a season-high 14 runs, the most since scoring the same amount on July 11, 2007 in a 14-2 drubbing of Lexington.

Hunter Mense led the game off with a double; it was the first of a career-high four hits on the night for the left-fielder who was later joined by short-stop Ozzie Martinez in the career-high, four-hit column.

Not to be out-done, designated hitter Ryan Curry went 3-for-3 three from the plate, was walked three times and scored a career-best four runs.

In all, eight of Greensboro’s nine position players got at least one hit and five of them turned in multiple-hit performances.

When scoring 14 runs, they seem to come in bunches. Along with a one-run first inning, the Hoppers put up two in the second, three in each the fourth and fifth innings, and matched a season-high by putting up a five-spot on the manually operated board at Municipal Stadium in the top half of the sixth.

The night included just three extra-base hits for the Hoppers. Following Mense’s leadoff double, Martinez hit a two-run homer in the second, coincidentally his second of the season, and right-fielder Mike Stanton drilled his fourth home run of the season over the centerfield wall to score two runs as well.

After Greensboro’s Hector Correa gave up five run in his two innings of work, Brett Durand came in and slowed the Suns lineup by giving up just two runs over three innings. Durand was credited with the win and moved to 4-0 on the season while Don Czyz and Steven Cishek pitched four scoreless inning to close out the game for the Hoppers.

Hagerstown’s Brad Peacock was tagged with his third loss of the season and fell to 0-3 after giving up six runs on six hits and walking four batters in his 3.2 innings of action.

Greensboro continues wraps up its eight-game road trip Tuesday with the series final of a four-game set against Hagerstown. The Hoppers, who have already secured at least a split, will be looking for their third consecutive victory and the series win as they take the field at Municipal Stadium for a 10:35 a.m. game. Greensboro is slated to send RHP Cristhian Martinez (2-1, 3.86) to the mound while the Suns are scheduled to counter with RHP Hassan Pena (1-2, 3.00).

The Hoppers return home May 8 to take on the Lake County Captains in a four-game set as part of an eight-game homestand. The homestand includes two Thirsty Thursday’s, two post-game fireworks shows, Reggy “The Purple Party Dude”, Babe’s Bark in the Park night and much more. For more information about upcoming Grasshopper games, events and promotions, contact the Grasshoppers Box Office at 336-268.2255 or visit www.gsohoppers.com on the World Wide Web.

*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****