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Greensboro Grasshoppers

Grand Slam, Two Doubles Get Blanton in the Flow

May 9, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


Aaron Blanton gave himself a chance to relax Saturday night.

Mired in a 2-for-26 slump to begin the season, the Hoppers' third baseman found his batting stroke against Lexington. He clubbed a grand slam homer in the first inning, added a double in the sixth and another double in the eighth to propel Greensboro to a 9-3 win over the Legends at NewBridge Bank Park.

"It feels good to get back in the flow," he said. "I've been finding my swing again, mostly slowing everything down. This will start to relax me and help me fall into what I'm looking for. I felt comfortable."

Just getting on the field is a big deal for Blanton. He played in 18 games with the Hoppers last season, hitting two homers and a triple, before breaking his wrist. He spent the next six months at the Marlins' rehab facility in Jupiter. It was three months before he could pick up a bat.

He got ready for 2016 and, on opening night, injured his hamstring and was out for 18 days. When Blanton got back in the lineup, he couldn't get anything going - until Saturday.

"He's got the tools," manager Kevin Randel said. "When he can slow things down, he's a good player. Nights like this are going to help. He put a nice, easy swing on a pitcher's mistake (for the homer) and all his swings were under control."

The homer came off Legends starter Nolan Watson, drafted in the first round last summer by Kansas City. Blanton picked on a two-strike slider and drove it far over the left field fence.

"I felt I could read him pretty good," Blanton said. "I didn't watch it because (Randel) doesn't want us to do that, but I knew I got it all."

He used the field well, with the homer going to left, the first double to center and the second double to right field. He scored three runs. What Blanton wants to do now is use the momentum from this game to start playing consistently.

"I feel I can do my job at third base and help this team a lot," he said.

Staked to the 4-0 lead, the Hoppers never looked back. Anfernee Seymour had two hits, including a two-run double. Stone Garrett added two hits and an RBI, Josh Naylor had two hits and an RBI and Kyle Barrett added the other RBI.

Gabriel Castellanos pitched four excellent innings but was robbed of a chance to get the win. He faced one batter in the top of the fifth inning when rain stopped play. When it resumed 43 minutes later, Kevin Guzman was on the mound. An error by Seymour helped the Legends to a three-run rally, but Guzman threw three shutout innings after that to earn the win. C.J. Robinson retired the side in order in the ninth.

The defensive play of the game - certainly the catch of the year so far - came in the top of the fourth inning. Lexington's Ben Johnson drove a ball deep to center field to the right of the batter's eye screen. Zach Sullivan sprinted back, leaped and pulled the ball down for the out. He was mobbed by his teammates on his way back to the dugout.

"He went in a straight line after the ball, elevated, gave full extension with his arm and went over the wall to bring the ball back," Randel said.

Sullivan said that while his glove was higher than the top of the fence, he actually caught the ball as it was going over rather than pulling it back.

"I saw it good off the bat and got a good jump," Sullivan said. "I lost it for a second and turned to see the fence. Once I knew where it was, I picked up the ball again and just played it right."

And where did the catch rate on his personal list?

"That's number one," he said.

The teams continue the series Sunday with a game at 4 o'clock. Steven Farnworth, who began the season as the team's closer, will start for the Hoppers.

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