SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Lillie Starts Strong, But Hoppers Fall

Published on May 7, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Greensboro starting pitcher Ryan Lillie opened with six scoreless innings, but the Drive rallied in the seventh to score a comeback win over the Grasshoppers, 3-2, in front of 7,473 students from Guilford County Schools on Monday morning at First National Bank Field. The Drive plated three runs in the seventh, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to secure a series win over the Grasshoppers, 3-games-to-1.

Lillie (1-1) matched his career-high in strikeouts, fanning eight hitters over 6 and 1/3 innings in the loss. He gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits with a walk. The right-hander retired the first eight batters of the game before plunking Drive catcher Samuel Miranda with two outs in the top of the third. He bounced back to fan two in a perfect fourth and saw his no-hit bid come to an end against the first batter of the fifth inning.

Greensboro (15-14) took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning. Jhonny Santos led off with a single, and two batters later, Garvis Lara smashed his third double in two days, scoring Santos from first to break the scoreless tie. Thomas Jones followed with his own double to cash Lara.

In the seventh inning, Victor Acosta put Greenville on the board with a solo home run (3) to open the frame. C.J. Chatham and Marino Campana followed with back-to-back singles, and both men took advantage of Greensboro errors to come around to score for a 3-2 lead.

Drive reliever Enmanuel De Jesus (1-0) earned the relief win, working 4.0 scoreless, hitless innings while working around a walk and striking out four. He took over for starter Nick Duran, who gave up two runs and struck out six in 5.0 innnings.

The Hoppers hit the road for their next seven games, opening a 3-game series in Asheville on Wednesday, May 9 before traveling to Augusta for their first visit to the GreenJackets' new SRP Park in North Augusta, S.C. on Saturday, May 12. The Grasshoppers return to Greensboro on Thursday, May 17, to open an 8-game home stand at First National Bank Field, and tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 7, 2018


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