SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Schultz Finishes 6-4 Loss With 3-for-3 Performance

Published on August 4, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO - Brian Schultz had the best game of his young career Monday going 3-for-3 at the plate for Greensboro as the Hoppers out-hit Lakewood 13-11 but ultimately lost after giving up five runs in the sixth and seventh innings combined.

After overcoming an early deficit, the Greensboro was unable to hang on as they dropped the third game of the four-game series, 6-4, to the BlueClaws in front of an announced crowd of 5,062.

Lakewood plated the game's first run in the third inning, but Greensboro responded in a big way in the home half of the frame as Matt Dominguez emptied the loaded bases with a single down the right field line.

"I didn't make solid contact with the ball and actually got a little luck because the ball was off the plate," Dominguez said. "They were playing me to the left and I was able to reach out and make contact to get the ball past their first baseman."

Lakewood's Mike Durant made a valiant effort to play the ball but it sneaked past his out-stretched arm and ended up in the corner allowing Greensboro to take a 3-1 lead.

In his first start since coming off the disabled list with a right hamstring strain, Stuart Alexander tossed four innings for manager Edwin Rodriguez and allowed just one unearned run on three hits before giving way to the bullpen.

Jay Voss pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning before things fell apart for the Hoppers.

The BlueClaws plated two runs on three hits in the sixth inning to pull even with Greensboro before Peter Andrelczyk was called on to record the innings final out.

Andrelczyk returned to the mound in the seventh and surrendered the lead by allowed the only four batters he faced in the game to reach base with three of them scoring before Steven Cishek and Corey Madden combined to shut down the BlueClaws in three innings of work.

Schultz, playing in just his 36th professional game after being drafted in the 35th round of the 2008 draft, did all he could to keep Greensboro in the game as he collected his third career three-hit game with his second career 3-for-3 performance.

Greensboro had its chances to make a late charge, but left five runners on base in the game's final three innings and although the Hoppers scored a run in the ninth inning, they came up short.

The loss, Greensboro's second of the series, dropped the Hoppers to 14 games back of Northern Division-leading West Virginia and puts them at risk of dropping their third consecutive series after already falling in seven of their last nine series'.

The Hoppers and BlueClaws return to NewBridge Bank Park for the series-final on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. before enjoying a rare off day at home. Greensboro is slated to send RHP Brett Durand (8-5, 5.01) to the mound; Lakewood is expected to counter with LHP Walter Tejeda (4-6, 4.48).

Check out the Greensboro Grasshoppers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from August 4, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central