SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Greensboro Grasshoppers Game Notes- 5.13

Published on May 13, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


Today's Game

Greensboro Grasshoppers (20-17)

vs. Lakewood BlueClaws (19-18)

Starting Pitchers

RHP Stuart Alexander (4-2, 4.14)

vs. LHP Jacob Diekman (0-3, 5.06)

Quick Stats

GBO Team Batting Average: .245 (13th)

GBO Team ERA: 4.04 (9th)

LAK Team Batting Average: .252 (9th)

LAK Team ERA: 3.40 (4th)

Game Information

Start Time: 7:00 p.m.

Ballpark: NewBridge Bank Park (7,599)

Location: Greensboro, N.C.

Tonight's Game: Is Game 2 of a four-game series against Lakewood and the sixth game of Greensboro's current eight-game homestand... The Hoppers are currently 2-3 during their homestand.

Winner, WInner: It was a three-run, bases clearing double by LF Tom Hickman that scored the game-winning run for Greensboro on Sunday; Monday's heroics may have only been an RBI single, but the result was the same as Hickman drove in the game winning run for a second consecutive night.

Quality Outing: RHP Brett Durand collected his second quality start of the season Monday by pitching six innings in which he allowed just one earned run... All five Lakewood runs were scored on Durand's watch, but two Greensboro errors made just one earned... Durand's last quality start came on April 13 in Greensboro's 12-2 victory over Southern Division-leading Asheville... He tossed six innings and gave up two earned runs against the Tourists.

Excellent PENmanship: Greensboro's bullpen has been one of the finest in the league this season and continues to prove to opposing teams just how strong they are; Monday was no exception... Steven Cishek and Garrett Parcell combined to toss three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit... This month the Hoppers' bullpen has a 1.80 ERA in 50 innings of work... They have allowed 10 earned runs and have struck out 44 batters... On the season, the bullpen has recorded an 8-3 record with 12 saves and 12 holds while shouldering a 2.41 ERA compared to a starting staff that has a 12-14 record with a 5.35 ERA... The bullpen has not allowed a run in its last 8.2 innings.

Who's on First: LF Tom Hickman extended his current consecutive games on base streak to 18 Monday with a third-inning RBI single... Hickman's 18-game on-base streak is the second longest active streak in the South Atlantic League; Hickory's Erik Huber has the longest active streak at 19... During his current on-base streak, Hickman is batting .218 (12-for-55) with a .443 on-base percentage... He has also been walked 20 times... Hickman's current streak includes 13 consecutive games on base at home... During his last 13 home games, Hickman is batting .209 (9-for-43) with 13 walks and a .414 on-base percentage.

Leading Off: SS Ozzie Martinez generally bats in the ninth spot on manager Edwin Rodriguez's lineup, but his numbers are campaigning for the leadoff position... Martinez leads the team with his .600 (9-for-15) batting average when leading off an inning and his average is over 200 points higher than the next closest teammate, Ryan Anetsberger, who is batting .323 (10-for-31) when leading off... He's hitting in a variety of manners as well; Martinez is the only member of the Greensboro roster to have at least one double, one triple and one home run out of the leadoff position.

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 84 walks this season while the Hoppers' lineup has been patient at the plate, taking 146 walks, most in the South Atlantic League.

Monday Morning Leader Board: Several Greensboro Grasshoppers appeared on last week's leader board for games played May 5-11... SS Ozzie Martinez topped the list by leading the league with his .563 (9-for-16) batting average and had the fourth-best on-base percentage (.588)... 2B Ryan Curry turned in the league's sixth highest batting average (.474) and led the league with his .630 on-base percentage; Curry also finished second with eight runs scored... From the mound, RHP Cristhian Martinez picked up a league-best, two victories while RHP Don Czyz threw six scoreless inning to tie for the lowest ERA on the week (0.00).

Saving Face: Closer Garrett Parcell earned his ninth save of the season Monday and moved in to second place of the Sally saves category... Parcell is 9-for-10 in save opportunities this season and is tied for the league lead in relief appearances (16).

Wizard of OZ: Hoppers' SS Ozzie Martinez continues to tear through the South Atlantic League and has seen his batting average rise to .360, over 50 points higher than the already-respectable .306 average he posted in April... His current average would rank him fourth in the league if he met the 2.7 PA/team game minimum and would be the best batting average by a right-handed batter... In his last 5 games, Martinez leads the team with his .429 (6-for-14) average; he's hitting .500 (12-for-24) in his last 10 games.

It's a Green Thing: Only two teams in the South Atlantic League have post losing records at home and have still managed to have a winning record as a whole... Greensboro is 7-12 at home this season and has not fallen under the .500 mark overall thanks to a 13-5 (.722) record on the road... The other team to accomplish such a feat: Greenville... The Drive are 9-13 at home and 20-18 overall because of a 11-5 road record.

Extra Bases: RF Mike Stanton hit his 10th double of the season Saturday to up his extra-base hits total to 17... Stanton's 17 extra-base hits are tied for fourth most in the South Atlantic League with Charleston's Jesus Montero... Stanton went 2-for-3 in the game to collect his team-leading 12th multiple-hit game of the season as well.

Back-to-Back: Greensboro's Bryan Petersen and Ryan Curry led off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back home runs Sunday... It was the second time this season the Hoppers have hit back-to-back homers and the first time this season Greensboro has led off the game with a blast.

Up Next: Greensboro hits the road for an eight-game road trip through Delmarva and Lakewood beginning May 16... The Hoppers first head to Delmarva to face the Shorebirds... Greensboro is 15-8 against Delmarva all-time and both teams have scored exactly 105 runs... On the road, the Hoppers are 8-4 against the Shorebirds.

Top Prospects: The Marlins' top pick in the 2007 draft (12th overall), Matt Dominguez, is the highest touted third-baseman on the Marlins' prospect list printed in Baseball America and enters his first full season of professional baseball after playing five games with the Gulf Coast Marlins and 10 games with Jamestown... In the same article, Dominguez was named the Marlins' best Minor League defensive infielder... Mike Stanton, the Marlins' second draftee in the 2007 draft, also split time between the Gulf Coast Marlins (8 games) and Jamestown (9 games) last season... Entering the season, Stanton ranks ninth on Baseball America's top 10 prospects for the Marlins and was tabbed the organization's best power hitter and best athlete in the minors.

Tonight's Starter: Stuart Alexander (4-2, 4.14)

Stuart Alexander is making his seventh start of the season tonight... He picked up wins in each of his first three outings before taking his first loss of the season on April 22 against Kannapolis... After a home start against Hagerstown was suspended after five innings of play at a 2-2 tie, Alexander made his next start on the road against the same Hagerstown team... He pitched 5 2/3 innings but was tagged with the loss... He last appeared on May 8 in a completion of another Hoppers suspended game... Although technically a relief appearance, Alexander threw seven innings and allowed three earned runs while striking out six to garner the 12-4 win... Since the game was a completion of a suspended game, all statistics count on its regular date of May 2.

2007 Recap: Alexander did not play in 2007.

Career Notes: Alexander has struggled up until this point in his young career... In 2006, the last season he played, Alexander was coming back from missing the 2005 season due to injury (Tommy Johns)... He posted a combined 0-7 record in 13 starts while splitting time between the Gulf Coast League Marlins and Jamestown of the New York Penn League... Signed as a non-drafted free agent on June 16, 2004, Alexander played with the GCL Marlins and Jamestown during the 2004 season before sitting out 2005.

Downtown Charlie Brown: Alexander is 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA in three NewBridge Bank Park appearances this season... In 14.1 home innings of work, Alexander has allowed five earned runs while striking out 16 batters... Opponents are batting .255 off Alexander at home this season.

- Alexander's 2008 Statistics: 4-2, 4.14 ERA, 37.0 IP, 35 H, 22 R, 17 ER, 3 HR, 13 BB, 30 K

- Alexander's Last Win: May 2 @ Lake County (12-4 over Santo Frias)

- Alexander's Last Loss: May 3 @ Hagerstown (3-4 to A. Severino)

- Alexander's Last Complete Game: None

- Alexander's Career High Strikeouts: 8 (July 10, 2004 vs. GCL Dodgers)

Check out the Greensboro Grasshoppers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from May 13, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central