Hoppers run winning streak to seven
from Bill Hass with Bill on Baseball(Greensboro Grasshoppers) at www.gsohoppers.com
Baseball can be broken down into simple terms when a team is playing well.
Here’s the way Hoppers outfielder Isael Soto described his two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning of the second game against Hagerstown Sunday.
“See the ball, hit the ball, don’t over-swing,” he said, with teammate Giovanny Alfonzo translating. “I wasn’t thinking home run. Just put the ball in play and try to do what I can to tie the game or put my team ahead.”
That homer helped Greensboro beat the Suns 2-1 and continue several startling streaks for the once-dormant Hoppers. It completed a double-header sweep, finished a four-game sweep of the Suns and extended the Hoppers’ winning streak to seven games.
“When work is fun, you look forward to going to work,” Soto said as the team looks forward to getting back on the field.
Having swept consecutive series (they took three from Kannapolis on the road before playing Hagerstown), the Hoppers open a three-game series against Delmarva. The first game is Monday at 7 p.m. at NewBridge Bank Park.
A constant throughout the streak has been outstanding pitching from both the starters and the bullpen. They held the Suns to seven runs in four games. In the last five games the Hoppers have given up only eight runs and in the last nine games they have surrendered just 16.
In that span, which includes eight wins, four starters have recorded wins (Jordan Holloway, Steven Farnworth, Gabriel Castellanos and Chuck Weaver) and the bullpen has four wins and six saves. Scott Squier has a win and two saves, Jeff Kinley two wins and C.J. Robinson four saves.
“Starting pitching sets the tone,” said pitching coach Brendan Sagara. “They’ve been getting into good counts, have issued very few walks and have been getting great plays from the defense.”
In 14 innings pitched in the doubleheader, for example, four Hoppers pitchers allowed just one walk. As for the defense, it sparkled on several occasions Sunday. Alfonzo made a diving stop and throw at third base in the first game. Angel Reyes at first base made an excellent swipe tag on an errant throw in the second game. Left fielder Stone Garrett made a diving catch in the second game. Second baseman Justin Twine made a diving stop to his left followed by a good throw in the second game.
The offense did the kinds of things needed to win games. In the opener, Kyle Barrett had a sacrifice bunt that led to a run and a sacrifice fly. Alfonzo also had a sacrifice fly. Josh Naylor got a run home with a groundout, Korey Dunbar singled in a run and Zach Sullivan drove in another with a groundout.
Holloway pitched five innings to earn the win and Squier looked sharp in two innings for the save.
The second game was interrupted by a had a one-hour rain delay (rain plagued the entire series). But Weaver came back after the delay and was touched for a run in the top of the fifth. It was the only run he gave up in his stint. That run looked like it might be enough for the Suns, but in the sixth Naylor singled and Soto drilled his second homer of the year to right field.
“That was a big momentum swing,” said manager Kevin Randel. “It deflated their dugout.”
Kinley, who retired the side in order in the sixth did the same in the seventh to pick up the .
victory.
“We made some mechanical adjustments with him,” Sagara said. “Now he’s getting his arm out in front on his delivery.”
The win also elevated the Hoppers to 8-2 when Jose Ceballos coaches third base. Ceballos said he has done that in winter league ball in Venezuela, but this is better competition.
“I like it,” he said. “I’m learning about game situations. I’m more involved in the game and making decisions.”
Randel recalled the excitement he felt in 2011 when Hoppers manager Andy Haines gave him some opportunities to coach at third. And he doesn’t mind the view from the dugout.
“It’s a different vantage point,” Randel said. “I can talk to the hitters during the game, so there’s more communication.”