SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Greenville knuckles under to Hoppers 5-2

Published on July 6, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. - A former outfielder started the game and a former catcher finished it, which translated into the Greensboro Grasshoppers beating the Greenville Drive 5-2 Thursday night at First Horizon Park.

The former outfielder was 30-year-old Drive starter John Barnes, attempting to convert to a pitcher. Barnes, who threw mostly knuckleballs, wound up taking his third loss of the season. He pitched four innings and allowed four runs, only one earned, but walked four, hit a batter and committed a costly error.

"We knew he had a pretty good (knuckler) if he kept it down," said Hoppers DH Trent D'Antonio, who drew two walks and doubled against Barnes. "Everyone has a different approach, and I tried to get back early and see the ball as long as I could.

"The ball doesn't have much rotation and it will wobble, shake and dip. When he threw a good one it should shake and drop."

Barnes was originally drafted by the Red Sox in 1997 and traded to the Twins the next season. He put up good numbers in the minor leagues and played 20 games in the majors. After playing at Triple-A Richmond last season, he signed with the Red Sox again as a pitcher. In 23 1/3 innings he has allowed 16 hits, walked 18, struck out 20 and given up 13 runs, eight earned.

"He's a true knuckleball guy," said Hopper manager Brandon Hyde. "You tell the hitters that if the ball is up, it has a chance to be a strike. If it's down, it will go out of the zone. I thought we showed good patience at the plate."

D'Antonio got things started by drawing a walk and eventually scoring on an infield hit by Andy Jenkins in the bottom of the first.

In the third, Colin Roberson hit one right back to Barnes, who misplayed it for an error. Roberson eventually reached third and scored as the second part of a double steal with Paul Witt, who stole second. D'Antonio drew another walk, James Guerrero singled in a run and walks to Jenkins and Kris Harvey forced in D'Antonio to make it 4-0.

That lead proved enough. Hoppers starter Ryan Tucker (3-8) pitched five innings and allowed one run, striking out seven. Tucker's key hitter was Luis Soto, who fouled off five straight 3-and-2 pitches before grounding out to end the fifth inning.

"He was pitching for the win there," said pitching coach Steve Foster. "That was his last hitter because of pitch count (104). He showed some competitive fire out there."

Bradley Stone, Travis Talbott and Blake Jones finished up. Jones, a converted catcher, picked up his 14th save.

Matt Mercurio had four hits for the Drive, including his third homer of the year. Jon Fulton had two of the Hoppers' six hits.

The teams conclude their four-game series at First Horizon today at 7 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 6, 2006


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