SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers snap streak with Game 2 loss

August 23, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, NC - The Lexington Legends jumped on Hoppers' starter Kyle Kaminska (8-9) early in Saturday's contest, as the Hoppers defense collapsed behind the right-hander, allowing the visiting Legends to slide past the Hoppers 9-4 in game two.

Kaminska, who suffered a short outing in his first appearance this home stand, was impressive in the first frame. The righty fanned two in the inning to help work around a bunt single by the third batter.

With a zero in the visitor's run column, the Hoppers' offense, which had scored 40 runs during the four-game winning streak, tabbed one run to support Kaminska on the hill. Leadoff man Isaac Galloway hustled to first on a bobble in the infield, and sped around to third base after the throw sailed wide of the bag at first.

Paul Gran grounded out to second base in the next at-bat, but scored Galloway to manufacture the RBI and give the Hoppers and early one-run advantage.

But the Legends, losers of 11 straight games, were ready to strike in the next inning. A single and double to leadoff the inning put Lexington in business early, while a sac fly by the third hitter brought home the inning's first run.

Kaminska then allowed yet another double and single to keep the inning alive, and hit the ensuing batter to help the Legends continue their rally. Another single followed by a slew of defensive miscues helped the visiting club plate five more runs in the inning, hanging six total runs on the Hoppers' starter.

The Hoppers would respond with a single run in the home half of the inning, where Justin Bass cruised into second after a double to left field, and came around to score on Galloway's RBI single to right field.

Kaminska allowed a pair of singles in the third inning, but managed to hold the Lexington bats in check thanks to two strikeouts. The Hoppers' right-hander toed the rubber for the start of the fourth inning, but allowed three base hits before the Lexington lineup sent Kaminska to the showers after just 3 2/3 innings, proving to be his second straight short outing, despite having tossed at least four innings in every appearance before this home stand.

The hard-throwing Arquimedes Caminero finished the inning for Kaminska, but not before the Legends plated three more runs with the help of defensive miscues.

Although facing a 9-2 deficit, the Hoppers' offense went to work again the in the bottom of the inning, driving in two of their own to cut the lead back to five runs.

A pair of singles by Emilio Ontiveros and Daniel Pertusati got the inning started for the Hoppers, while Gran, who grabbed two RBIs on the day, brought home Ontiveros with a routine groundout to the pitcher.

Jake Smolinski, who padded his numbers with a perfect 5-5 day at the plate, lined a single into centerfield to bring home Pertusati for the Hoppers' second run of the inning.

Caminero, Jared Yecker, and Brandon Todd combined to shut out the Legends for the remainder of the ball game, surrendering just four hits in 5 1/3 innings of flawless relief. The Hoppers' staff fanned 12 hitters on the day, including six by Kaminska, despite his less than spectacular final line.

Even though the Hoppers' bullpen did their part throughout the final innings of the game, the offense never came through for the home club.

The Lexington bullpen matched the effort of the Hoppers' bullpen pitch for pitch, as three relievers worked together to blank the Hoppers over the final four frames. The Lexington staff recorded nine strikeouts altogether, including four by the bullpen alone, who combined to surrender just three hits in their four innings of work.

The Hoppers (57-67) saw their streak of four straight wins snapped on Saturday, but continue with their current series Lexington tomorrow, hooking up with the Legends for game three Sunday at NewBridge Bank Park.

The first pitch of the Sunday contest is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 23, 2009


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