Greensboro Grasshoppers Friday Night Recap courtesy of Fred Anderson Toyota of Raleigh…..
Final Score:Asheville Tourists 4, Greensboro Grasshoppers 3
WP:Parker Smith(1-1)/LP:Owen Kellington(1-1)/SV:Nate Wohlgemuth(1)
The Greensboro Grasshoppers record now sits at (5-2), while the Asheville Tourists have climbed up to (3-4) on the season…
Tourists' Line-4-6-0
Hoppers' Line- 3-9-1Attendance-3,621
Game Time Temp-73 degrees
Time of Game-2:22Shalin Polanco led the Hopper hitters, going 2-3/HR/2 BBs/2 RBI...And Shalin Polanco picks up our REMAX Revolution Player of the Game Award...Polanco has had super plate-discipline all week long, and he is drawing walks at a steady clip, as he watches those pitches very closely, as they come across the plate...Tony Blanco went 2-4 and drove in one run...Lonnie White Jr. drove a massive hit to center field, and we thought that sucka was going to be LOOOOOOOOOONG GONE, but it stayed in the park, coming off the wall, and White Jr. ended up with a Double...He had that big Double Blast, and he also scored a run...
The Hoppers also got base-hit singles from Jack Brannigan, Axiel Plaz, Wyatt Sanford, and Bryan Sanchez...There were a total of 9 hits for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, and the Hoppers also left nine men on base...The Hoppers led early, 2-0, Asheville posted 3 runs in the sixth inning, and led Greensboro, 3-2, at that point...
As the game sat at 3-2, with the Tourists on top in the Top of the Eighth Inning, Asheville had a man on base(Alejandro Nunez) with Two Outs, and the Hoppers Defense had been true all night long, and the Hoppers were almost out of the inning, but then with One Man On, and Two Men Gone for the Tourists, this happened...
Freuddy Batista reaches on a throwing error by first baseman Tony Blanco Jr. Alejandro Nunez scores....Blanco Jr. made the throw to the Hoppers' pitcher Jake Shirk covering first base, and Blanco Jr. air-mailed the throw, and Nunez scored easily...To our reporter, this was one of the real KEY turning points in the game...If the Hoppers pull of the play at First Base, then they/the Hoppers are out of the inning, and headed to the bottom of the eighth, down just 3-2, instead of 4-2...Greensboro picked up four late-game hits, a Double by Lonnie White Jr. that nearly left the ballpark, and they also got three singles and they scored one run...Just couldn't get a BIG rally going....That play at first base, on the Hoppers' defense, still sticks in the crawl, as we watched them trying to win this ball game...Hard to get that one error, out of the system...
Solid start on Friday night, for the Hoppers' Cameron Keshock, as he went five innings, giving up 0 Runs, on 1 Hit, with 2 BBs/5 Ks...Alejandro Nunez was the biggest thorn in the side to the Greensboro Grasshoppers defensive efforts, as Nunez 2-3, with a Three-Run Home Run, Single, Walk, the 3 RBI, and Two Runs Scored...Nunez' three-run HR in the sixth inning was the blow that put the Tourists in front in this game, and they were there to stay...Nunez also scored that fourth run of the game for the Tourists when he raced home from second on the throwing error by the Hoppers Tony Blanco...Cesar Hernandez was another Tourists batter creating a stir at the plate, with his 2-4 night, and posted one run scored...Hernandez was also busy doing his defensive work for Asheville in left field...
A'ville starting pitcher Parker Smith did his part for the Houston Astros farm team, with Smith allowing 2 Runs, on 5 Hits, while he walked 3 batters, and Smith struck out 3 Hopper batters...Jose Guedez worked long relief for Asheville, going 3 2/3s Innings, giving up 1 Run, on 4 Hits, with 1 BB/4 Ks...Every time you would look up, Guedez was still out there on the mound, just bringing it...
Thursday and Friday nights were very similar...The score of 4-3 was the same each night, and Overall this Hoppers-Tourists Series is all tied at 2-2....Saturday and Sunday games remain for this week, with Saturday Night's first pitch coming down the shute at 6:30pm, and then on Sunday, game time is set for 2pm...
Up Next on Saturday it will be, the Asheville Tourists(3-4) at the Greensboro Grasshoppers(5-2)....RHP Hung-Leng Chang is set to go for the Hoppers, while Asheville will send their RHP, Dylan Howard, to the hill...
Be sure to tune in and Listen Live to some of the game, when you CLICK HERE for GSOHoppers.com....Friday Night's Game from Callie Cline at www.gsohoppers.com
Late Greensboro Push Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to AshevilleGREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers were defeated by the Asheville Tourists, 4-3, on Friday, April 10. With the win, Asheville improved to 3-4 on the season, while Greensboro fell to 5-2. The Grasshoppers outhit the Tourists 9-6 and committed one error in the contest.
Outfielder Shalin Polanco led Greensboro offensively, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and one run scored. Tony Blanco Jr. followed with a 2-for-4 performance, adding one RBI. Additional hits for the Grasshoppers were recorded by Jack Brannigan, Lonnie White Jr., Axiel Plaz, Wyatt Sanford, and Brian Sanchez.
For Asheville, infielder Alejandro Núñez paced the offense, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Outfielder Cesar Hernandez contributed with a 2-for-4 outing and one run scored. Ethan Frey and Narbe Cruz also recorded hits for the Tourists.
Right-handed pitcher Cameron Keshock started on the mound for Greensboro, striking out five while allowing one hit and issuing two walks over five innings. Owen Kellington was charged with the loss and a blown save.
Right-hander Parker Smith earned the win for Asheville, improving to 1-1 on the season after striking out three and allowing five hits, two earned runs, and three walks across five innings. José Guedez recorded his first hold of the season, while Nate Wohlgemuth secured his first save.
The Grasshoppers continue their Opening Week against the Asheville Tourists tomorrow Saturday, April 11, at 6:30PM. To purchase tickets to any home Grasshoppers game please call 336-268-2255 or visit gsohoppers.com.