SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Hoppers hit three homers to prevent sweep by Legends

Published on August 18, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Greensboro Grasshoppers took out some frustration on the Lexington Legends with a 9-3 win Friday night at First Horizon Park.

The Hoppers had lost the first three games of the series, including what the players and coaches felt was their worst performances of the year in an 8-1 loss Thursday.

This time, Greensboro bashed three home runs to back up the pitching of Sean West (8-4), who allowed two runs and four hits in six innings of work.

"This was important, after the way we played (Thursday)," said Andy Jenkins. "That was embarrassing as a club. This was one of our best games all year."

Jenkins hit one of the home runs, his fifth, and pushed his RBI total to 65. His homer was a typical line drive in the gap that stayed high enough to clear the fence.

"I wasn't sure if I got it out, so I ran hard just in case," he said.

That hit led off the fourth inning and gave the Hoppers a 2-1 lead. They added three more runs in the frame to put them in command of the game.

Jon Fulton hit his 12th homer in the bottom of the third inning, which answered a homer by Lexington's Eli Iorg and tied the game 1-1.

Fulton also doubled in a run in the fourth, but had to come out of the game after he scored on a single by James Guerrero. Fulton steamed around third and collided with Lexington catcher Jose Lopez, who dropped the throw from first baseman Mark Ori.

The ball squirted away and Fulton crawled back to tag home plate, but was wobbly when he tried to get up. He started to go back on the field for the top of the fifth inning, but decided against it.

"I'm OK," he said after the game. "I just got my bell rung. It was an awkward collision because I hit with my face instead of my shoulder. I didn't want to be a liability."

Gary Roche went in to play third base and promptly recorded three assists on groundouts in the fifth inning. Roche also started a double play, made two other assists and a putout.

Greg Burns belted the other homer, his second of the season, in the bottom of the eighth.

"I'm not a home run guy," Burns said. "If I catch it right it will go out, and I'll take one when it comes. But that's not my game."

Guerrero led the 12-hit attack with three hits and Burns and Fulton added two each.

The Hoppers play their next four games at Hickory before returning to First Horizon for their final home stand of the season Aug. 23-27.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 18, 2006


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