from Will Cornelius Hoppers’ media:
Hoppers Trail Early, Rally To Win Big
GREENSBORO, NC — Bowling Green starter Matt Moore entered game two with a sub-three earned run average and nearly 50 more strikeouts than innings pitched, but met his match in Sandy Rosario (2-0), who tossed seven innings for the Hoppers to pick up the win in game two, 15-3.
The Hoppers jumped on the statistically sensational lefty in the first inning, where a leadoff walk by Isaac Galloway quickly turned into scoring opportunity after an errant pickoff attempt him around to third base.
One batter later, Ben Lasater topped a grounder towards second base to bring home Galloway from third and gave the Hoppers an early one-run advantage.
Rosario, who escaped the first inning unscathed despite allowing a pair of singles, was tagged for a run of his own next inning. The Hot Rods sent the leadoff man to first with a single to center, and advanced him to second on a defensive miscue in the infield.
Rosario recorded the next two outs in order, but Anthony Scelfo served a two-out single into centerfield, delivering a big RBI to knot the game at one apiece.
Bowling Green, who rode the big inning last night, struck for two more runs in the following frame. The inning started with a leadoff double off the bat of Jake Jefferies, then continued when he moved to third after yet another error in the infield.
Jefferies crossed the plate two batters later after Jason Corder snuck one into the hole at deep short. A routine ground out off the bat of Justin Reynolds brought home the second run, helping the Hot Rods capture the lead for the first time in the contest.
After the three-run blemish, Rosario went into shut down mode, and held Bowling Green scoreless over his final four innings of work. The Hoppers’ righty finished his day having scattered nine hits, but hurled seven innings to pick up his second win in his last two outings.
The Hoppers offense, which had been held in check in the opener, finally came together and provided Rosario with some run support after relinquishing the lead.
A pair of singles coupled with two walks helped the Hoppers manufacture two runs in the fourth, while the home team really busted the game open with a four-run sixth inning. The big inning, highlighted by three straight hits to open the frame, gave the Hoppers a comfortable four-run advantage, while Rosario anchored the Hoppers from the mound.
The four spot in the fourth was not enough for the Hoppers, however, as the offense sparked for eight more runs in the following inning to nix any chance of a Bowling Green comeback.
The Grasshoppers worked four free passes in the eight-run inning, including three hit batsmen and one walk. Three singles and double acted as a catalyst for the big inning, but it was Galloway’s grand slam that really put the nail in the Hot Rod’s coffin. The blast, Galloway’s third, capped off an inning where every hitter in the lineup stepped to the plate, and helped dig a 12 run hole for the visiting club.
Ramon Benjamin, a hard throwing new face in the Hoppers’ bullpen, tossed a scoreless ninth inning, closing the door on a spectacular performance by the Hoppers from both sides of the ball.
Relievers Rodolfo Encarnacion, Brandon Todd, and Benjamin combined for three innings of one-hit baseball, while Justin Bass exploded for three hits and six RBIs.
The six RBIs is a season-high for Bass, and was his first multi-RBI game in just over a month.
The Hoppers (54-66) will try to continue their good play in tomorrow’s match up, where they face the Hot Rods for game three of the current series. Graham Johnson (5-7) will toe the rubber for the Hoppers, as they look to make it two straight against the visiting Bowling Green club.
First pitch of tonight’s game is slated for 7:05 p.m.
Will Cornelius
Media Relations, Intern
Greensboro Grasshoppers Baseball