The Greesnboro Grasshoppers halted their 4 game losing streak Friday night in front of 7717 fans at First Horizon Park. The Hoppers rode the strong right arm of Ryan Tucker and the three big base hits and 2 runs scored by Jonathan Fulton to defeat Delmarva 4-0.
The Hoppers’ bullpen did not blow up and Jason Iehl, Bradley Stone, and Blake Jones all did their jobs each man coming through after Tucker got the team off to such a solid beginning with 7 big strikeouts and excellent velocity on his fastball(93-96 mph). The win for Tucker was his 5th against 9 losses on the season but he has now won in his last 3 starts.
It was very satisfying to see the Hoppers in the victory column after struggling through most of the past week at home. Manager Brandon Hyde has called this part of the season the Dog Days and he is correct. It has been extremely hot and muggy at the ballpark and the players had been missing by just a little bit late in the game or the Hoppers would be sitting on 6 wins and just 1 loss as they enter the 8th and final home game for July tonight(Saturday) against the Delmarva Shorebirds.
The good news is that the Hoppers have Returned to Glory with the 4-0 win over Delmarva on Friday night and the team is now 49-49 overall for 2006.