Greensboro Sweeps Past Lexington With Streaks in Tact
Hickman Homers Twice as Hoppers Complete Perfect 5-Game Road Trip
Lexington, Ky. – Alejandro Sanabia gave up one run in the bottom of the first to put the Hoppers behind, but it was the only run he allowed on the night as Greensboro completed its five-game road trip with its fifth consecutive victory, 7-3, over Lexington.
After allowing the first-inning run to the Legends, Sanabia (1-1) gave up just three hits over his final five innings of work and left the game after six frames with his first victory of the season in sight.
Greensboro continued to trail until Bryan Petersen’s one-out single to right-center field in the top half of the third inning plated two Hoppers. The hit not only put Greensboro on top for the first time in the game, but extended Petersen’s current hitting streak to a league-leading, 14 games.
Tom Hickman decided to extend another Greensboro streak in the fifth inning. With one out and a runner on base, Hickman hit his first of two home runs on the night to make it 12 straight games in which a member of the Grasshoppers team has hit a home run. His blast gave Greensboro a 5-1 advantage; he also hit a two-out, solo homer in the seventh.
Sanabia left the game with Greensboro’s four-run lead in his back pocket, but the Legends made a push in the seventh inning by scoring two runs off the bat of Jonathan Fixler. Fixler’s two-run, home run pulled Lexington within three, but the Hoppers wasted little time in pushing their lead back to four.
As the leadoff batter in the ninth inning, Petersen hit his 10th home run of the season; it was Greensboro’s third of the night and put the Hoppers on top by a final tally of 7-3.
Both Hickman and Petersen finished the night with three RBI.
Fixler’s home run was credited to Eric Basurto’s final line as he began his relief work in the seventh inning. After two innings on the mound, Basurto handed the ball over to Steven Cishek. Cishek struck out two batters in the bottom of the ninth to close out the game and give Greensboro a clean sweep of its five-game road trip.
The Hoppers return home Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. showdown against the Kannapolis Intimidators. Greensboro swept a two-game series against the Intimidators in Kannapolis before taking their last three games in Lexington, but has failed to post a win over the Intimidators at NewBridge Bank Park this season.
NOTE: Prior to Friday night’s game, the Hoppers placed RHP Don Czyz on the disabled list (right tricep strain) retroactive to June 5 and Colby Miller was reassigned to Greensboro from Jupiter.
Postgame Quick Stats
Win – Alejandro Sanabia (1-1); Loss – Carlos Ladeuth (2-6); Save – None
Time – 3:00; Attendance – 5,341
*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****