Voss takes the loss for Hoppers at Lakewood, N.J.

Southpaw Suffers From Hoppers’ Offensive Setback
Voss Tagged With Loss In First Career Quality Start; Hickman Snaps 0-for-16 Skid

Lakewood, N.J. – Greensboro could not have asked for a better start from Jay Voss on Friday night; but his efforts were ultimately wasted in a 2-0 loss to Lakewood as the Hoppers were blanked for fifth time this season.

Voss, who has yet to earn a professional win, was credited with his second loss in as many appearances in a Grasshoppers uniform despite having one of the best starts of his career.

The southpaw pitched a career-high, six innings and allowed just one unearned run while striking out three BlueClaws. But Voss was left to drift at sea with no run support and a defense that for the second straight night committed a costly error that allowed Lakewood to plate the game-winning run.

Greensboro failed to produce a hit after the fourth inning and only collected three in the contest, wrapping up its eight-game road trip with a scanty .176 batting average.

Tom Hickman earned the Hoppers’ first hit of the night with two-out double in the second inning to snap a 0-for-16 slump at the plate; Matt Dominguez and Jameson Smith had Greensboro’s other two hits.

Three Lakewood pitchers combined on the shutout while starter Chris Kissick gave up all three Grasshoppers hits while striking out five batters in 3 1/3 innings of work.

The loss was Greensboro’s third straight, its most consecutive road losses this season, and brought an end to a 2-6 eight-game road trip.

Greensboro returns to action Saturday at NewBridge Bank Park in a 7:00 p.m. game against the Delmarva Shorebirds where the Hoppers will look to build on a five-game home win streak. The Hoppers are slated to send RHP Stuart Alexander (4-3, 4.72) to the mound while the ‘Birds are expected to counter with left-handed hurler Cole McCurry (1-4, 5.75).

Postgame Quick Stats
Win – Moises Melendez (1-0); Loss – Jay Voss (0-2); Save – Joseph Rocchio (1)
Time – 2:09; Attendance – 8,067
*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****