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SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Sinkbeil earns first win as Hoppers top Riverdogs 3-0

August 8, 2006 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. - Some members of the Greensboro Grasshoppers were kidding pitcher Brett Sinkbeil before Tuesday's game that he hadn't received a decision through his first three starts.

So he went out and changed the kidding to congratulations.

Sinkbeil threw six scoreless innings and earned his first South Atlantic League victory as the Hoppers blanked the Charleston RiverDogs 3-0 at First Horizon Park.

Drafted in the first round in June by the Florida Marlins, the right-hander from Missouri State recorded two wins at Jamestown in the New York-Penn League before being promoted to the Hoppers. Tuesday he allowed four hits and two walks and struck out five while lowering his ERA to 2.38.

Manager Brandon Hyde said he liked Sinkbeil's tempo and the way he attacked hitters.

"We've been working on speeding things up," Sinkbeil said, "and having a better tempo through the whole process."

Sinkbeil said the key in the win was locating his fastball and slider.

He got the only run he would need in the bottom of the first when Brad Correll's groundout scored Agustin Septimo. Septimo scored again in the third when he singled, stole second and then third and came in on a single by Andy Jenkins. It was the 61st RBI of the season for Jenkins.

The final run came in the fourth when Brett Hayes walked and scored on Matt Kutler's double. Hitting coach Joe Espada, coaching at third base, waved Hayes home. The throw home from right fielder Tim Battle was there, but Hayes slid and got his hand between the feet of catcher Joe Muich.

After Sinkbeil left, the Hoppers' bullpen preserved the team's ninth shutout and second of this home stand. Travis Talbott pitched two innings and Mauro Zarate pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

In the five games the Hoppers have won in this stand, the pitchers have allowed just five runs.

"The starters are setting the tempo, we're getting timely hits early and playing great defense," Hyde said. "The outfield defense was especially good tonight."

The Hoppers wrap up the series with Charleston, along with the home stand, today at 12:30 p.m. at First Horizon Park.

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