Bill Hass with Bill on Baseball:Drive’s big inning stops Hoppers

“I think (Garner) got fatigued and the ball flattened out and wasn’t getting the sink that it was earlier,” said pitching coach Jeremy Powell.

from Bill Hass with Bill on Baseball(Greensboro Grasshoppers) at www.gsohoppers.com…..

Drive’s big inning stops Hoppers

One big inning did in the Hoppers Thursday night.

Greenville put five runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning and went on to beat Greensboro 6-3 at NewBridge Bank Park.

Although no team likes to lose the final game of a series, the Hoppers still took two out of three from the Drive. Greensboro, 14-12 on the year, begins a four-game set with West Virginia Friday.

Starter Max Garner was staked to a 2-1 lead that he carried into the fifth inning. But he surrendered three doubles, a single, a walk and a homer as the Drive capitalized on his inability to keep the ball down. The three-run shot by Jake Romanski was the big blow.

“I think (Garner) got fatigued and the ball flattened out and wasn’t getting the sink that it was earlier,” said pitching coach Jeremy Powell.

The positive for the pitching staff was the relief work by Miguel del Pozo, Blake Logan and C.J. Robinson, who combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits.

“A couple of guys who have been scuffling (del Pozo and Logan) did well and kept the score right there to give us a chance,” Powell said.

There were opportunities galore offensively. The Hoppers had 10 hits, drew seven walks and one batter was hit by a pitch. That’s 18 runners, but only three scored and 12 were stranded. Greenville helped itself by turning three double plays.

Greensboro left the bases loaded twice, in the second inning when Austin Dean flied out and in the ninth when Kentrell Dewitt, who won Tuesday’s game with a homer in the 11th inning, popped out.

Avery Romero hit his second homer of the season to lead off the second inning. Dean and Felix Munoz had RBI singles.

“It was a weird game to watch,” said manager David Berg. “That’s (Class) A ball. Now we have a new series.”

Although West Virginia is a Northern Division rival, the Power and Hoppers will be meeting for the first time this season. Jarlin Garcia will start for Greensboro.

NOTES: Pitcher Casey McCarthy was promoted to Jupiter and outfielder Coco Johnson added to the roster. For a few days the Hoppers had been carrying 14 pitchers and 11 position players and now that’s more balanced with 13 and 12.