SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

One heck of a Hickory mess

Published on August 13, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


In a game that featured two grand slams, 21 position players, nine pitchers, an umpire knocked from the game and 30 total hits, Hickory lost to Greensboro, 17-11, Wednesday. Unfortunately for the Crawdads (15-37, 45-77), both grand slams were hit by the Grasshoppers (21-31, 59-63) signifying a trend that slanted in Greensboro's favor: of the Grasshoppers' 14 hits, six were doubles and two were grand slams; of the Crawdads' 16 hits, two were doubles and the rest singles.

After Hickory jumped ahead 5-0 in the first two innings and took a 5-2 lead into the fourth, Mike Stanton's first grand slam of the year and his league-leading 33rd home run overall capped a five-run frame that gave Greensboro its first lead of the night.

Later down 8-5, Hickory answered with a 10-batter, five-run fifth inning that featured Greensboro pitcher Jay Voss hit with a line drive and having to leave the game and later home plate umpire Ross Nickel hit with a foul ball and also having to leave.

It added to a list of players who had to leave because of assorted injuries: Nickel and Voss, Greensboro reliever Eric Basurto (sore right arm), Greensboro first baseman Hunter Mense (hit by pitch in forearm in second inning) and Greensboro catcher Tyler Belcher (fouled a pitch off his left foot in the ninth inning.

Still, with the Crawdads closing the Grasshopper lead to 12-11 going into the ninth, Greensboro's Dominguez tagged his second grand slam of the year and the 'Hoppers' second of the night to push the game to its eventual 17-11 conclusion.

In all, none of the nine pitchers threw more than four innings; nine players had hits for each side; 15 different players scored; 14 different players drove in runs; the teams with the two lowest stolen base totals on the year combined for five swipes; five wild pitches were thrown and five batters were hit.

Earning the win for Greensboro was reliever Peter Andrelczyk, improving to 1-3 after allowing just one run in two innings of work across the seventh and eighth.

Taking the loss for Hickory was reliever Sergeuy Linares, dropping to 0-2 after surrendering four runs (three earned) in the seventh and eighth.

The 17 runs matched a season-high for runs allowed by Hickory, tying the 17 they allowed Saturday in a 17-1 loss at West Virginia. The 17 runs were also a season high scored for Greensboro.

Hickory has now lost 24 of its last 27 games overall and 15 of 16 at home.

The teams finish their season series Thursday night at 7. The Crawdads send RHP Rodolfo Aguirre (0-3, 6.14 ERA) to the mound to face Grasshoppers RHP Alex Sanabia (5-4, 4.44 ERA).

It's Dollar Beverage Night at L.P. Frans Stadium, including soda and suds. For tickets and more information, call (828) 322-3000 or visit www.hickorycrawdads.com.

GAME NOTES: Game time was 3:30 plus a 20-minute delay. Attendance was 801. ...The total time of 3:50 matches the longest game played by Hickory this season, a 3-hour, 50-minute affair at Greenville on April 28. ...It was the third time this year an umpire could not finish because of injury in a Hickory game. For the second time (following July 28's game at Charleston), Hickory assistant coach Josh Bonifay served as base umpire for the final three innings. ...Hickory suffered its 32nd defeat of the season by more than three runs, the most in the South Atlantic League. ...Major leaguer Adam LaRoche went 2-3 with two RBIs in his final rehab start with the Crawdads. In his three games with Hickory, LaRoche went 6-10 with four RBIs, two runs, a home run and a double.

Check out the Greensboro Grasshoppers Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 13, 2008


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