The Mighty Righty Ryan Tucker had his stuff on Sunday afternoon and the Greensboro Grasshoppers had their hitting shoes on and the result was a 10-3 victory over the Charleston, South Carolina RiverDogs. The Hoppers picked up their 4th win in a row and Tucker(now 6-10) was tough all day long. Speaking of Long, the Hoppers connected for 2 LONG GONE homeruns. Brett Hayes hit a three-run shot his 8th and Gary Roche launched a solo shot, his second of the season.
The Hoppers scored in bunches off the Dogs, with 3 big runs in the first inning and then a six-run out-burst in the 5th as ten Hopppers came to the plate. The other run came on Roche’s HR in the 8th. For the Hopppers 10 runs on 10 hits and their pitching took care of the rest.
The Hopper’s starter Ryan Tucker was very effective striking out 8 Dogs and walking just 2. Tucker gave up 2 first inning runs on a triple by Marcos Vechionacci but after that it was pretty much “lights out” while Tuck was on the hill. RT and the Grasshoppers pitching staff kept the guys out in the “K” zone busy ringing up the strikouts with 11 total by the staff. Don Moore and Robert Stutts were working hard to keep up with Tuck and relievers Jason Iehl and Blake Jones who tossed 1 inning each. The way the Hoppers’ pitchers have been throwing lately the Waffle House will be working overtime serving up all those FREE waffles.
It was nice to see Augustin Septimo back in the Hoppers lineup at shortstop Sunday after a 6-8 week abcense due to injury. The Hoppers will be in action again tonight(Monday) against the RiverDogs at First Horizon Park, first pitch 7pm.