The Greensboro Grasshoppers(4-4) dropped their final game in the Asheville series on Thursday but the Florida Marlins keep moving on up and after their win Thursday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves the Marlins have the best record in the Majors.
The Fighting Fish are off to their best start ever and the Grasshoppers will pull into Greenville, South Carolina to begin a four-game series this evening with the Greenville Drive(Boston Red Sox).
The only other winner in the Marlins’ system on Thursday was Jacksonville with former Hoppers skipper Brandon Hyde at the controls.
Asheville 13
Greensboro 6
*****Hoppers:Kevin Mattison 2-4, Triple, 1 Run
Jeremy Synan 2-4, 2 RBI’s,
Ben Lasater 3-5, 2 Doubles
Brandon Turner 3-3, Double, RBI
Justin Jacobs 2-5, Double, 1 Run*****
Avanced A Jupiter fell 4-3 to Fort Myers
*****Tom Hickman(Hoppers 2008) 1-4 HR
Matt Dominguez and Ozzie Martinez were both 1-3 and both here in Greensboro last season. Blake Jones(GSO 2006-2007) was the losing pitcher for Jupiter.*****
AA Jacksonville won over West Tennessee 11-6
*****Bryan Peterson(Hoppers 2008) 2-4, 2 Runs, HR
Brad Davis(Hoppers 2006) 3-5, 2 Doubles, 2 Runs*****
AAA New Orleans fell 7-4 to Memphis
*****John Raynor(Hoppers 2007) 2-4, Double, 2 Runs
Gabby Sanchez(Hoppers 2006) 2-5, 2 RBI’s*****
ATLANTA — Stealing a page from last year, the Marlins on Thursday went back to capitalizing on the long ball.
Cody Ross’ three-run homer, and four RBIs, provided the necessary punch for Florida to hold on for a 6-2 win over Atlanta in front of 21,072 at Turner Field.
Along with completing their first three-game sweep at Turner Field, the Marlins also snapped a string of four straight games without a home run. Ross’ blast was the first by a Florida player since Dan Uggla reached the upper deck at Dolphin Stadium on Friday.
The last time the Marlins went four games in a row without a homer was Aug. 5-8, 2008. They haven’t gone as many as five straight games since Aug. 6-9, 2005.
Power punctuated the 2008 Marlins, who set a franchise record with 208 home runs. Now a revamped lineup has added more speed and the team is manufacturing runs. Still, Ross’ blast set an early tone.
“I’ve always said you need some pop,” Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Now 8-1, the Marlins have won four straight, and they’ve matched the fastest start in club history. The 1997 and 2004 teams also won eight of nine.