Mense Delivers Pinch-Hit, Game-Winner for Greensboro
Published on July 4, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release
GREENSBORO - Greensboro gave all 10,034 fans in attendance two fireworks shows to cheer about Friday as the Hoppers ended a seven-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the visiting Delmarva Shorebirds.
Mike Stanton set of the first fire-cracker with his league-leading, 21st home run of the season in the second inning, but his efforts were quickly erased when Delmarva put up two runs in the top of the third.
Greensboro responded with a run in the home-half of the third to even things up before the skies opened and the rain began.
It continued to rain throughout the remainder of the game, but the Hoppers didn't allow a little moisture to ruin a perfectly fine Fourth of July.
The Hoppers reclaimed the lead in the sixth inning on another Greensboro blast. Bryan Petersen hit his fourth home run in as many games; it was his 16th of the season in a Hoppers uniform.
With the third-largest crowd in Hoppers history huddled on the concourse, Delmarva again pulled even with Greensboro in the top of the eighth inning before the final in-game display went off.
Greensboro put two runners on base with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning and manager Edwin Rodriguez elected to pinch hit Hunter Mense in place of Tyler Belcher. Mense delivered just what Rodriguez, the fans and the Hoppers needed on the first pitch he saw with a two-run double that put Greensboro on top for good.
Corey Madden came in to pitch the ninth and picked up his second save of the season after striking out two batters and getting the final batter of the game to pop out to Ozzie Martinez at shortstop.
Madden's inning of work on the mound was just part of the much-needed performance from the Hoppers pitching staff. Kyle Kaminska made his first start since allowing 12 runs on 13 hits in his June 28 outing against Kannapolis; he clearly left that outing in the past as he struck out a career-high, nine batters in six innings.
Kaminska's only two allowed runs came in the third inning as he gave up a two-run home run to Ryan Adams; he gave up just five hits on the night before giving way to Steven Cishek, A.J. Battisto and Madden. Battisto earned the win to improve to 6-1 on the season.
Greensboro and Delmarva will continue their four-game series Saturday with a 7:00 p.m. game that will see RHP Alex Sanabia (2-2, 5.45) square off against RHP Robert Neigebauer (0-0, 4.00). Saturday's game will also include a post-game fireworks show.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 4, 2008
- Legends hold off BlueClaws, 3-2 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Jackets Win Seventh Straight Home Game - Augusta GreenJackets
- Tourists blast their way to victory - Asheville Tourists
- Dad's celebrate America's birthday with win - Hickory Crawdads
- First win for starting pitcher since June 1st - Lexington Legends
- Mense Delivers Pinch-Hit, Game-Winner for Greensboro - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Greensboro hops past Shorebirds - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators rained out - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Four-Run Seventh Dooms Drive Versus Sand Gnats, 4-3 - Greenville Drive
- Power win streak snapped at six - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns even series with Power - Hagerstown Suns
- Captains Intimidated 10-4 - Lake County Captains
- Betances Activated from DL; Chigges Sent to Staten Island Roster - Charleston RiverDogs
- Eight Game Homestand Set for July 7th-14th - Charleston RiverDogs
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