Kaminska No-Hits Lakewood Through Six Complete
Dominguez Scores Game-Winner in First Game off Disabled List
Lakewood, N.J. – For the 4,620 patrons that made their way to FirstEnergy Park Tuesday it might have been hard to believe what was happening right before their very own eyes.
In two previous appearances, Greensboro’s Kyle Kaminska (1-1) had allowed 11 runs in nine innings of work and entered Tuesday’s series-opener against Lakewood (21-24) with a 0-1 record while shouldering an ERA of 10.00.
However, when the 19-year-old took the mound for the first time away from NewBridge Bank Park this year he must have forgotten his stats-line in the clubhouse. Kaminska turned in the best performance by a Hoppers’ starter this season and by far the best of his career as he threw six hitless innings, striking out five, and led Greensboro (25-20) to a 3-1 victory.
He left the game with a 2-0 lead and the BlueClaws broke up the no-hitter with two away in the seventh inning when Matt Rizzotti singled off Eric Basurto past a diving Ozzie Martinez.
Lakewood’s Chance Chapman (1-4) also turned in a solid performance, but after five scoreless innings he allowed both Grasshoppers runs in the seventh to take the loss.
Making his first appearance of the season, the Florida Marlins’ 2007 first-round draft pick Matt Dominguez had the pleasure of scoring the game-winning run. Dominguez, who returned to the Hoppers’ roster after being sidelined for over a month with mononucleosis, was 0-for-3 on the night but scored the game’s first run on Martinez’s sixth-inning triple; Mike Stanton also scored on the play.
Basurto, Don Czyz and Garrett Parcell each pitched an inning as the Hoppers returned to the win column. Basurto and Czyz were each credited with holds while Parcell, making his league-leading 20th appearance of the season, picked up his 12th save.
Both teams finished the night with just four hits as the moundsmen for Greensboro and Lakewood controlled the game from start to finish. Along with Martinez’s triple, Stanton singled in the seventh inning before scoring Greensboro’s final run, and backstop Torre Langley finished the night going 2-for-4 from the dish.
The Hoppers, who have now won 15 of their last 17 meetings against Lakewood, return to FirstEnergy Park Wednesday for an 11:00 a.m. game in search of their 10th consecutive victory over the BlueClaws.
Greensboro is slated to send RHP Alejandro Santabia (0-0, —) to the mound for his first appearance of the season after being added to the Hoppers’ roster Tuesday; Lakewood is expected to counter with RHP Drew Naylor (3-2, 2.59).
Postgame Quick Stats
Win – Kyle Kaminska (1-1); Loss – Chance Chapman (1-4); Save – Garrett Parcell (12)
Time – 2:20 (:30 delay); Attendance – 4,620