SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Hoppers Slug Thier Way Past Captains in Finale

Published on May 21, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, NC - The Grasshoppers defeated the Lake County Captains 8-2 on Thirsty Thursday to win their third game of the current series.

The Hoppers' homerun extravaganza proved to be the story of the evening, as Lake County starter Alex Perez (2-2) was tagged for all four round trippers in his first three innings of work.

Perez and the Lake County bullpen allowed six hits on the evening, with five going for extra-bases.

Despite the four long balls, Perez led all pitchers with seven strikeouts over the course of the evening, fanning seven of the last 14 hitters he faced. The Captains bullpen would register seven more strikeouts on the evening to send five Hopper's hitters home with a multiple strikeout day.

But the power explosion proved too much, as the Grasshoppers offense sparked again on Thursday, blasting four or more homeruns in a game for only the second time all season.

The Hoppers jumped on the Captains early, after back-to-back three run innings and a two run third granted the Grasshoppers an eight run lead.

The Grasshoppers led things off when Jake Smolinski doubled to plate Paul Gran in the first. Lasater followed the double with a line drive over the left field fence for his team-leading seventh homerun.

Justin Jacobs, Jeremy Synan, and Paul Gran, who all added homeruns of their own, led the Hoppers by turning in multi-hit performances.

Jeremy Synan has developed in an RBI machine, driving in seven runs in the Hoppers last five games. Jacobs, currently working on a .538 clip in his last four contests, has hit safely in all four games this series while going deep twice during the home stand.

Grasshoppers' right-hander Kyle Kaminska (4-2) turned in a masterful performance tonight, going a season-high seven innings to capture his third home victory of the season.

Kaminska's seven innings matches the longest outing of any Grasshopper starter, tossing six scoreless frames while scattering seven hits. Kaminska forced Captain's hitters to swing the bat tonight, striking out five without issuing any free passes.

Graham Jennings and Brandon Todd combined for two innings of scoreless relief to close the door on Kaminska's fourth win, and earn the Grasshoppers their fourth home series victory of the season.

The Grasshoppers (22-18) head out for an eight-game road trip, including another four game set with the Captains in East Lake. They return home on May 30th to take on the Lakewood Blueclaws in a SkyRocket Saturday match-up.

Check out the Greensboro Grasshoppers Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 21, 2009


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