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Greensboro Grasshoppers

Greensboro Game Notes

May 22, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


Today's Game

Greensboro Grasshoppers (25-21)

@ Lakewood BlueClaws (22-24)

Starting Pitchers

RHP Brett Durand (5-2, 5.14)

vs. LHP Walter Tejeda (3-2, 4.33)

Quick Stats

GBO Team Batting Average: .239 (14th)

GBO Team ERA: 4.07 (10th)

LAK Team Batting Average: .251 (7th)

LAK Team ERA: 3.65 (5th)

Game Information

Start Time: 6:30 p.m.

Ballpark: FirstEnergy Park (6,589)

Location: Lakewood, N.J.

Today's Game: Is Game 3 of a four-game series against Lakewood and the seventh game of an eight-game road trip... The Hoppers are currently 2-4 on this road trip.

376 Days Later: Lakewood's win over the Grasshoppers Wednesday was its first since May 10, 2007... The Hoppers last fell to the BlueClaws in the fourth game of a five-game set; it was the second game of a double-header at FirstEnergy Park... Since their May 10, 2007 loss, the Hoppers had garnered nine straight wins over the BlueClaws and out-scored Lakewood 59-31 during that span.

For All The Wrong Reasons: Tonight's starting pitcher, Brett Durand, has made it on to the South Atlantic League leader board in a category he wishes he hadn't... Durand, who is tied with former Grasshopper Colby Miller, has surrendered the league's second most home runs this season by allowing nine long balls to opposing batters... Six of his nine allowed home runs have come at NewBridge Bank Park, while the Denham Springs, La., native has given up three on the road (two in Greenville and one at Lake County).

Road Tripping: Greensboro has managed to plate a meager 12 runs on its current road trip and has failed to score over two runs in four of its six games... Since the beginning of the road trip, the Hoppers have scored one, two, four, zero, three and two runs, respectively... The Hoppers have stumbled at the plate, squeaking out a .181 average in their last six games on the road and the pitching staff has seen similar results with a 4.50 ERA... Opposing teams, Delmarva and Lakewood, have a combined .242 average against the Hoppers on the road trip and a 2.16 ERA.

Hickman's Hiccups: Since going 3-for-3 in Greensboro's 10-2 loss to Delmarva in the first game of Sunday's double-header, OF Tom Hickman has gone 0-for-14 during the Hoppers' last four games... The four-game drought marks the second time this season that Hickman has gone four games without recording a hit, but the first time he has failed to reach base in four consecutive games... During his last four-game slump (April 14-19), Hickman went 0-for-12 from the plate but was walked four times.

Small-Ball & A Blast: Greensboro and Lakewood combined for 16 hits Wednesday; 15 of them were singles... OF Justin Jacobs' sixth-inning home run was the only hit that went for extra bases in the contest and broke up Lakewood's shutout bid... The homer was Jacobs' second of the season; both have been leadoff home runs.

On The Open Road: Entering the current road trip, Greensboro boasted one of the best road records in the South Atlantic League at 13-5... Since, the Hoppers have gone 2-4 on the road and their road record has fallen to 15-9... Greensboro's 15-9 road record is now the fifth-best road winning percentage (.625) in the league and the Hoppers' 15 wins are tied for third most with Augusta... Greensboro has played three of the top-four road teams on the road, taking three-of-four from both Lake County and Augusta while splitting four games at Greenville... Lake County improved its road record by stealing three-of-four games from Greensboro at NewBridge Bank Park on May 8-11.

Like Discount Day at the Dollar Store: Greensboro currently leads the league with a .944 saves percentage, saving 17 games in 18 opportunities... The Hoppers lone blown save came on April 27 when RHP Garrett Parcell, who has the league's second-most saves with 12, gave up two runs and the lead in the top of the ninth inning to Hagerstown... Along with Parcell's 12 saves, Don Czyz and Steven Cishek have each collected two saves and A.J. Battisto has added another... Greensboro's 17 saves are tied with Charleston for the league lead; however, the RiverDogs have blown three save opportunities... Hagerstown and Hickory have collected 15 saves each, but have save percentages of .625 (15-of-24) and .789 (15-of-19), respectively... Lakewood is in the Sally cellar with a .409 saves percentage and the league's third-fewest saves (9)... Rome has the fewest saves in the league with seven; West Virginia has eight.

Ice Pack Out Back: RHP Corey Madden has a way of cooling off batters when he steps on the mound... The Anchorage, Alaska, native has allowed just two runs this season and since then has thrown 18 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings... In his last 12 appearances, Madden has given up just six hits and walked seven batters while striking out 30... Since last allowing a run on April 12 against Asheville, Madden has collected a 1-0 record and recorded five holds... For the season, Madden is 2-0 with a 0.70 ERA and has held opposing batters to a .151 average while striking out a team-high 40... Better yet, the right-handed hurler has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings on the road for the Hoppers... Madden has not allowed a run in eight road appearances and is holding opponents to a .133 average in their own respective ballparks.

Recent Transactions: (5/20) INF Matt Dominguez reinstated from the disabled list and placed on Greensboro's active roster... RHP Alejandro Sanabia called up to Greensboro from extended spring training... RHP Chris LeRoux transferred back to Jupiter... C Tyler Belcher transferred to extended spring training.

Long Ball Breakdown Update: Tonight the league's third and fourth best home run hitting teams meet in the third of four games at FirstEnergy Park... Greensboro ranks third in the Sally League with 42 home runs this season, including 21 on the road... Lakewood ranks fourth with 33 home runs, including 14 at home... The BlueClaws have only allowed nine home runs in their own park this season while the Hoppers have surrendered 15 home runs away from NewBridge Bank Park... Greensboro's pitching staff has allowed the league's second-most home runs this season (41) while Lakewood has given up just 20, two more than the league-low.

Walking Notes: The Grasshoppers are a bit greedy when it comes to both issuing and taking walks... The Greensboro pitching staff has issued a league-low 104 walks this season... At the plate, patience is paying off for the Hoppers' lineup that has been walked 164 times so far this year, most in the South Atlantic League.

Up Next: Greensboro returns to NewBridge Bank Park where the Hoppers are on a five-game win streak... The Hoppers open an eight-game homestand with four games against Delmarva before facing West Virginia for the first time this season after an off day on May 28... This season, Greensboro is 1-3 against Delmarva and are welcoming the Shorebirds to NewBridge Bank Park for the first time since July 25-28 when the Hoppers took the first three games of a four-game set before falling in the series finale... All-time the Hoppers are 16-11 against Delmarva, including a 7-4 ledger at home.

Tonight's Starter: Brett Durand (5-2, 5.14)

RHP Brett Durand (5-2, 5.14) is making his ninth start of the season tonight... After joining the squad on April 8, Durand made a start that same night and pitched 5.0 scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the season... In his second start, Durand struck out a season-high six batters, one shy of his career high, and recorded the first quality start, 6.0 innings pitched and two earned runs, of his career... Durand struggled during the course of his next two outings, giving up five earned runs on eight hits in each appearance while not factoring in either decision, but got back on track with a 5.0 inning performance in which he allowed just one earned run against division-leading Lake County... Durand appeared on May 5 against Hagerstown out of the bullpen in 3.0 innings of work for the Hoppers; he earned his fourth win of the season in that outing... Durand has since made made three starts and posted a 1-2 record while allowing 13 runs (nine earned) in 13 innings of work.

2007 Recap: In his first professional season, Durand threw just 35.1 innings and picked up a 1-2 record while pitching for the Gulf Coast League Marlins... He saw action in nine games, starting seven and finishing one, and struck out 36 batters... Entering the season, his longest outing was 5.0 innings, which he did on three occasions.

Career Notes: Was drafted in the 11th round of the 2007 First Year Draft and pitched for the Gulf Coast League Marlins... He earned his first professional victory on Aug. 15, 2007 while playing on the road against the GCL Cardinals... In his first victory, Durand tossed 4.0 scoreless innings of relief and struck out six batters.

Road Work Resume: Durand is 2-1 with a 5.21 ERA on the road after suffering his first road loss of the season in his last outing... In 19 innings of work, the righy from Denham Springs, La., has allowed 12 runs on 22 hits and three home runs away from NewBridge Bank Park... Opponents are hitting .289 off of Durand in their respective home ballparks.

- Durand's 2008 Statistics: 5-2, 5.14 ERA, 42.0 IP, 46 H, 30 R, 24 ER, 9 HR, 8 BB, 27 K

- Durand's Last Win: May 12 vs. Lakewood (7-5 over Yen-Feng Lin)

- Durand's Last Loss: May 17 @ Delmarva (1-3 to Sean Gleason)

- Durand's Last Complete Game: None

- Durand's Career High Strikeouts: 7 (August 21, 2007 vs. GCL Dodgers)

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