SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Hoppers stop Drive 2-1

July 7, 2006 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. - James Guerrero gave himself some moments to remember Friday night, but his biggest one might have come after the Greensboro Grasshoppers beat the Greenville Drive 2-1 Friday night.

The Hoppers' shortstop made two sparkling plays in the field and drove in the go-ahead run in First Horizon Park. Afterwards, he got an autographed baseball from former major-league great Andre Dawson, now a special assistant to the team president for the Florida Marlins. Dawson spent a couple of days watching the Hoppers.

"I'm going to hold on to this until my parents can get out to see me play," said Guerrero, a California native who played at San Diego State for another major-league great, Tony Gwynn. "They have a special wall with my trophies and some game balls and other autographed balls."

Guerrero's play during the game was crucial to the Hoppers, who salvaged a split of the four-game series by winning the last two games.

The Drive scored in the first inning when Mark Wagner doubled in Luis Soto with two outs. Guerrero prevented more damage by ranging up the middle to grab a grounder and throw out Tony Granadillo.

In the second inning, Greenville's Mitch Stachowsky doubled with two outs. Christian Lara grounded up the middle and Guerrero dived and smothered the ball. He couldn't make a play but Stachowsky had to stop at third. Pitcher Aaron Thompson then got Jay Johnson to ground out to end the inning.

"In that situation, you try to keep the ball in the infield," Guerrero said. "You knock it down to keep the run from scoring and give the pitcher a chance to get out of the inning."

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Guerrero came to the plate with one out and Juan Figueroa on third. He lifted a fly ball to center, deep enough to score the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly.

"Lately with runners on third, I haven't been cashing in," Guerrero said, "so I decided to take more pride in it. The pitcher is trying to keep the ball down and in to get a ground ball. I looked for something in the middle of the plate, up and away, because my strength is going the other way."

Blake Jones pitched the final two innings, earning his 15th save of the season and his second in as many nights. It was his first two-inning save of the season. David Humen, who retired the side in order in the seventh, got the win.

Thompson shut down the Drive after the first and allowed one run in six innings, striking out six. Greenville's Michael Rozier matched him, pitching six innings and allowing just two hits.

The Hoppers tied the game in the fourth when, with the bases loaded and no outs, Brett Hayes drove a ball to deep left center. Johnson made a leaping catch over the fence, then tossed ball to left fielder Chris Turner. The Drive made two relay throws, tagging second base and third base, and thought they had a triple play. But the umpires ruled the Hoppers' Jeff Van Houten had tagged up at third, so his run counted. Andy Jenkins was doubled off second base and the play ended as an over-the-fence sacrifice fly for Hayes.

"That's the best catch I've seen since I've been here," said Hoppers manager Brandon Hyde, in his second season. "His whole arm went over the wall and he brought back a grand slam."

The home stand continues with two games against the Hickory Crawdads, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 7, 2006


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