SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Pitching and defense solid as Hoppers top Sand Gnats

Published on August 4, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Greensboro Grasshoppers reduced baseball to three essential elements Friday night - pitching, defense and timely hitting.

The result was a 4-1 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats at First Horizon Park.

Aaron Thompson, Jason Iehl and Brad Stone combined to shut down the Gnats with just four hits. Thompson (7-7) pitched six innings, Iehl threw two and Stone closed the game to earn his third save of the season.

"Thompson changed speeds, located the ball and made big pitches to keep them off-balance," said pitching coach Steve Foster. "Iehl got the ball up early, but stayed back in his delivery and was more effective in his second inning.

"And Stone pitched the way he's done since he came here - attacked with his fastball and had a dirty breaking ball."

The key hitting came from Brett Hayes, with a two-run double in the first inning, and Matt Kutler with RBIs in the fourth and sixth innings.

Defensively, there were two excellent plays in the fourth inning. Second baseman Gary Roche stopped a hot shot by Savannah's Tim Pahuta and threw him out, and shortstop Paul Witt made a backhand stop and long throw to get Scott Schade.

The Hoppers also turned a pair of double plays, one started by Thompson. And Thompson helped himself by stretching to get a low throw by first baseman Daniel Batz for an out in the sixth inning. That came right after Thompson picked off Alex Nunez.

"I don't pick many guys off," Thompson said. "The point is to keep the runner close. But when you do get one, it gives the team a lift. And the tag was perfect by Daniel Batz, right on his hand at the bag."

Manager Brandon Hyde said the Hoppers have played solid defense all year and "done a good job of not giving the other team extra outs."

Hyde said Thompson set the tone for the night with his performance. He surrendered a first-inning home run to Edgardo Baez and then three singles the rest of his stint.

"You're going to give up some home runs in this park," Thompson said, "so you just try to minimize them."

The Hoppers banged out 11 hits, three by Witt and two each by Hayes, Andy Jenkins and Jon Fulton.

The teams conclude their four-game series Saturday at 7 p.m. at First Horizon.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 4, 2006


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