SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Greensboro Game Notes

Published on May 25, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


Today's Game

Greensboro Grasshoppers (25-24)

vs. Delmarva Shorebirds (27-21)

Starting Pitchers

RHP Kyle Kaminska (1-1, 6.00)

vs. LHP Tony Butler (1-2, 3.97)

Quick Stats

GBO Team Batting Average: .235 (15th)

GBO Team ERA: 4.02 (9th)

DEL Team Batting Average: .252 (8th)

DEL Team ERA: 3.60 (6th)

Game Information

Start Time: 5:00 p.m.

Ballpark: NewBridge Bank Park (7,599)

Location: Greensboro, N.C.

Today's Game: Is Game 2 of a four-game series against the Delmarva Shorebirds and the second game of an eight-game homestand... The Hoppers are 0-1 in their current homestand.

Bird Droppings: The Delmarva Shorebirds have dropped four losses on Greensboro so far this year... Delmarva's four victories over the Hoppers are the most by the Shorebirds against Greensboro in a single season... Previously, the most wins by 'Birds against Greensboro in a single season was three; achieved in both 2005 and 2006; last season Delmarva won just two of its eight meetings against the Hoppers.

Puerto Rican Performance: Carolina, Puerto Rico, native Ozzie Martinez went 2-for-4 in Saturday's game and was part of all four Greensboro runs... The short stop collected all three of Greensboro's RBIs and scored the Hoppers' last run of game in the eighth inning... It was Martinez's first multiple-hit game since a three-hit performance on May 9 and his eighth overall this season... In his first at-bat, Martinez hit a ground-rule double that scored Greensboro's first run of the night... He later drove in two more runs with a sixth-inning single... After driving in Greensboro's first three runs of the game, Martinez scored the Hoppers' final run on a throwing error by Delmarva center-fielder Calvin Lester... Lester was attempting to return a Bryan Petersen single to the infield.

Petersen PIcks Up: Returning to Greensboro for the first time since being promoted to Jupiter on May 12, OF Bryan Petersen picked up right were he left off by collecting his 11th hit in his last seven games with the Hoppers... Petersen left Greensboro with a .260 batting average after playing in 33 games for manager Edwin Rodriguez and hit for a .128 average with two home runs in 11 games after making the jump.

Looking For A Repeat Peformance: After suffering four straight losses, the Grasshoppers could use another outing like Kyle Kaminska had the last time he stood on the hill... In Kaminska's last start, the Naperville, Ill., native left the game after pitching six innings of no-hit baseball against the Lakewood BlueClaws... Kaminska allowed one walk and struck out five batters while lowering his ERA four full runs (from 10.00 to 6.00) and his opponent batting average fell from .409 to .227... It was Kaminska's first appearance away from NewBridge Bank Park and he was awarded his first win of the season for his efforts.

Inside The Slump They Can't Get Out: During Greensboro's current four-game skid, the Hoppers have suffered from a .185 batting average... And while a 3.27 ERA over the course of the last four games doesn't look out of the ordinary, it's tough to pick up wins when your opponents have combined for a 1.50 ERA during the same span... The Hoppers have been close in all four games, dropping three by just one run and the other by two, but have failed to get the bats bangin' when they need them most as Saturday's one-run loss saw Greensboro strand 10 runners on base.

Less is More: This season the Hoppers have had a hard time performing in front of the masses... When playing with more than 4,000 fans in the stadium, the Hoppers have posted a 9-20 (.310) record, including a 6-13 (.315) mark at NewBridge Bank Park... Oddly enough, Greensboro plays well for the select few that make it out to the ballpark... With fewer than 4,000 fans in attendance, the Hoppers have a 16-4 record which includes a 3-0 record at home.

Recent Transactions: (5/24) INF Adam Howard was released by the Florida Marlins organization... INF Danny Garcia was reinstated from the disabled list and added to Greensboro's active roster... INF Ben Lasater was transferred from Greensboro to extended spring training... OF Bryan Petersen was transferred from Jupiter to Greensboro.

Sally's At Home: Nine of the South Atlantic League's 16 teams have losing records in their own ballparks this season while 10 teams have posted winning road records; nine of which have a better record on the road than they do at home.

An Orange Experiment: Results Pending

Throwing the Game: Friday's loss was the second time in as many nights that the Hoppers throwing error allowed the game-winning run to score... Ozzie Martinez was attempting to turn a double play on Thursday, but a throwing error in the sixth inning allowed Lakewood's Travis Mattair to safely round third and touch home to put the BlueClaws up by a final score of 5-4... Friday's throwing error by Emilio Ontiveros allowed Mattair to get on base in the third inning; he later scored to put the BlueClaws ahead, 1-0.

Drafting Dominguez: Greensboro 3B Matt Dominguez has unofficially reached base in all four games he has played since returning from the disabled list... In Thursday's 5-4 loss to Lakewood, Dominguez collected career-highs in hits (3) and runs scored (2); he finished the night going 3-for-4 from the plate... In his first game back, May 20, Dominguez scored after reaching on a fielder's choice.

Mad Madden: RHP Corey Madden allowed his first run of the month in Friday's 2-0 loss to Lakewood, it was the first run he's allowed since April 12 at home against Asheville... The Anchorage, Alaska, native is currently 1-0 on the month with a 0.77 ERA... Friday's run was the only run Madden has allowed on the road this season in 15 innings of work; it's just the third run he's allowed all season.

Up Next: Greensboro continues its eight-game homestand with a four-game set against the West Virginia Power... All-time the Hoppers are 14-26 against the Power, including a 5-12 mark last season... At home, the Hoppers are 7-16 against West Virginia and have never won a home series against the Power... The last time these two teams met, Sept. 1-3, 2007, West Virginia swept a three-game series at home.

Tonight's Starter: RHP Kyle Kaminska (1-1, 6.00) is making his third start of the season tonight and his fourth appearance in a Grasshoppers uniform... The Naperville, Ill., native made his 2008 debut against Lake County on May 10 and allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work... He was scheduled to start in the series finale against Lakewood on May 15, but after a short rain delay Matt Mallory made the start and Kaminska tossed 4 1/3 innings from the bullpen in long relief... He made the best start of his career and arguably the best start by a Grasshoppers pitcher this season on May 20 when he tossed six innings of no-hit baseball in a win against Lakewood... He walked one batter, struck out five and left the game after no-hitting the BlueClaws for six complete innings.

2007 Recap: In five appearances, four starts, Kaminska compiled a 1-1 record with a 2.84 ERA... In his professional debut, Kaminska tossed 3.0 innings of relief and allowed just one run on one hit while striking out a career-high five batters to pick up his first professional win.

Career Notes: Kaminska was selected in the 25th round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft by the Marlins.

- Kaminska's 2008 Stats: 1-1, 6.00 ERA 3 G, 15.0 IP, 18 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 2 BB, 10 K

- Kaminska's Last Win: May 20, 2008 at Lakewood (3-1 over Chance Chapman)

- Kaminska's Last Loss: May 10, 2008 vs. Lake County (9-0 to Ryan Morris)

- Kaminska's Last Complete Game: None

- Kaminska's Career High Strikeouts: 5 (August 2, 2007 vs. GCL Nationals)

Check out the Greensboro Grasshoppers Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 25, 2008


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