from Will Cornelius Hoppers’ media:
SYNAN WAKES UP HOPPERS’ BATS WITH TWO HOME RUN EFFORT
GREENSBORO, NC—Jeremy Synan single-handedly boosted the Grasshoppers’ offense Wednesday night, using two home runs to wake up the sleeping bats and move past the Hagerstown Suns 8-1 in the series opener.
Hagerstown worked two walks to get things cooking in the second frame, and advanced the two runners with a double steal before a third walk by righty starter Kyle Kaminska (6-6) loaded the bases with two outs. Kaminska pitched his way past the bases loaded spot with a fly out to the first basemen, and helped the Hoppers into the dugout with the score still knotted at zero.
The third inning began with a line drive to centerfield by Steve Lombardozzi, who hustled around to third on a line drive over the outstretched glove of shortstop Terrence Dayleg. Dayleg tried to make a diving stop on the next grounder that came his way, but instead tipped the ball off his glove and into left field to bring home the Sun’s first run of the ballgame. Kaminska worked past the tight spot by forcing Charlie Fermaint to bounce into an inning-ending double play, but walked off the hill facing a one run deficit.
The Hoppers’ offense, which had been silent for much of the second half, suddenly caught fire after going down a run, striking for five runs in response to the Hagerstown third. Dayleg led things off by taking a pitch and trotting his way to first before speeding to third after Isaac Galloway laced a double down the right field line. Kevin Mattison popped up to the left fielder in the next at-bat, but picked up the sac fly after Dayleg jogged home to tie things up at one apiece.
Jake Smolinski, who has been a steady catalyst in the slumping second half, pushed a double inside the right field line to bring home Galloway, and kept the inning alive with just one out. Ben Lasater joined the third inning hit parade next, driving in a run of his own with a single back up the middle. Jeremy Synan finished the five-run fifth with a moon shot home run that bounced across the street behind the right field wall, scoring Lasater and giving the Grasshoppers their first lead since game three of the Lake County series.
Daniel Pertusati made a nice pick up on a hot shot to second in top half of the fourth, as Kyle Kaminska induced three groundouts to blank the Suns and get the Hoppers back in the dugout to try and add to their four run lead.
The Hoppers would go scoreless in their next at-bat, but tallied two more runs in the sixth when Smolinski dropped his second hit of the day in front of the charging left fielder. Synan made the defense pay for not diving for Smolinski’s bloop shot when he drilled his second homer of the day, a line shot over the wall in right field.
Synan stole the show at the plate, as his 2-3 day led all hitters, while his four RBIs accounted for half of the Hoppers’ run production. Smolinski added a two-hit performance of his own, his second in two games, while Lasater continued his home on base streak by going 2-4 as well.
Righty Kyle Kaminska picked his up his sixth win of the year to halt a personal three-game losing streak, while preventing the Grasshoppers from dropping their third straight as well. Kaminska matched his season-high with four walks, but pitched around the free passes by striking out three and rolling two double plays.
The Hoppers (41-42) vie for a two-game win streak for the first time since the second half began when they take on the Suns in game two. First pitch of the Thirsty Thursday match up is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Will Cornelius
Media Relations, Intern
Greensboro Grasshoppers Baseball