SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Roche's single give Hoppers win in 10

Published on May 30, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. - Gary Roche grounded a single up the middle in the 10th inning to give the Greensboro Grasshoppers a 2-1 win over the Lake County Captains Tuesday afternoon.

The outcome gave the Hoppers a split of the four-game series and was extremely important before they head on a road trip to Delmarva. After a day off Wednesday, Greensboro plays at Delmarva for four games. The Shorebirds are one of the two teams the Hoppers are trying to catch in the Northern Division standings of the South Atlantic League. The series will be the only time the teams meet in the first half.

"This was a must-win game if we were going to stay competitive in the first half," said Hoppers manager Brandon Hyde. "Delmarva is a big series, and we need to win it."

Greensboro nursed a 1-0 lead through eight innings, scoring an unearned run in the third. Brett Hayes singled, moved to second on a groundout and scored when Captains shortstop Niuman Romero made a bad throw to first on a grounder by James Guerrero.

That was the only blemish against Captains starter Carlton Smith, who allowed two hits and struck out five in six innings.

Hoppers starter Sean West was dominant through seven shutout innings, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out eight.

"He had command of all three of his pitches," pitching coach Steve Foster said of the 6-foot-8 left-hander.

Although the temperature began at 93 degrees and climbed to 97 by the end of the game, Foster said West wasn't bothered.

"He's from Louisiana," Foster said, "and he said this was like a cool day in Louisiana."

Travis Talbott and Todd Doolittle combined to get out of the eighth, with Doolittle getting Chris De La Cruz to fly out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Wes Letson surrendered a leadoff homer to Matt Fornasiere to tie the game. It was Fornasiere's second homer of the season.

The Hoppers left two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth against Lake County reliever Dustin Roddy. In the 10th, Roddy hit leadoff hitter Jared Gaston, who moved to third when Guerrero's potential double-play grounder went through the legs of Lake County second baseman De La Cruz for an error.

Roche followed with his single to score Gaston and end the game. Letson wound up with the win, his second in as many games with the Hoppers.

After the series with Delmarva, Greensboro returns to First Horizon Park for a game against Hickory on June 5.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 30, 2006


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