from Will Cornelius Hoppers’ media:
JOHNSON PITCHES HOPPERS PAST CAPTAINS IN GAME TWO
GREENSBORO, NC – The Grasshoppers topped the Lake County Captains in the second game of the current series, extending the Hoppers winning streak to three games.
Tuesday’s game was once again dominated by pitching, as Grasshoppers’ starter Graham (1-0) Johnson bested his season numbers with the 4-1 win.
Johnson worked into the sixth frame of the afternoon contest, finishing with 5 1/3 innings pitched and allowing just one run on three hits.
Johnson’s previous appearances ended without a decision, but the 6’6†right hander tossed five scoreless frames while fanning four hitters to pick up his first win of the season. Johnson’s final line shatters his season standards in innings pitched, hits allowed, runs, and strikeouts.
The Grasshoppers bullpen provided another solid outing today, holding the Captains to three hits in 3 2/3 scoreless innings while closing the door on Johnson’s spectacular start.
Closer Pete Andrelczyk worked a scoreless ninth, striking out two on the way to his second save of the four game set. Andrelczyk’s seventh save of the season ties him for third place amongst South Atlantic League pitchers.
The Hoppers’ offense kept pace with Johnson and the pitching staff, tagging Lake County hurlers for runs in the second, third, fifth, and eighth innings, while tallying at least seven hits in each of their last four games.
Infielder Daniel Pertusati connected on his 10th double of the season to plate Paul Gran in the fifth, as Pertusati led the Hoppers by recording his second three hit performance in three games. Pertusati’s three hit effort brings his average to .429 in the last five games, as he flirts with the .300 mark for the season.
Last night’s hero, Jake Smolinski, boasted his second consecutive multi-hit game while red-hot Justin Jacobs went 2-4 with an RBI of his own.
Jacobs has now hit safely in three straight games while collecting 11 hits in his last eight contests. The sixth round selection now owns a .379 batting average over the Grasshoppers’ last ten games, tops on the team.
The Hoppers (21-17) will try to extend their current winning streak to a season-best four games, as they take on the Captains again tomorrow evening for game three of the current series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Will Cornelius
Media Relations, Intern