SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Skipworth Homers Twice In Hoppers' Win

Published on August 5, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, NC -- Kyle Skipworth, with his two home run night, led the Hoppers in both an early charge and late rally to edge the Grasshoppers past the Hickory Crawdads in game one of the four-game series, 7-6.

While Skipworth drove in the game's first run with a solo shot in the fourth inning, it was starter Johnny Dorn who stole the show early in the Tuesday contest.

Dorn was spectacular in his 21st outing of the 2009 campaign, as the Hoppers' opening day starter shut down the visiting Crawdads to the tune of six straight scoreless innings. He not only shut out Hickory over his first six frames, but he fanned five and scattered just four base hits.

Dorn did lose some command after he ran out for the start of the seventh inning, walking the first two hitters he faced to put himself in a dicey situation with no outs. But the righty exited the game after issuing the second free pass, turning his four-hit gem over to reliever Jared Yecker.

Yecker came into the ball game and recorded a quick out, but found himself in serious trouble one batter later. The Crawdads worked another walk to load the bases, then pounded Yecker for three runs after a bases clearing triple by speedster Cody Podraza.

Yecker would face only more batter in the inning before Brandon Todd would take over from the bullpen. Todd finished the inning with a strikeout, but not before Hickory managed a five spot to tie the ball game at five runs apiece.

It was Skipworth, however, who stepped up once again in the bottom half of the inning, belting his second homer of the day, a towering two-run shot to deep right field. With the blast, Skipworth turned in his first multi-home run game of the season, and just his first three-RBI performance in over two months.

Todd returned to the mound in the eighth, but ran into trouble after breezing past the first out of the inning. Closer Pete Andrelczyk checked in for Todd after the early sign of trouble, and ended any hope for a rally after he worked two consecutive groundouts.

Andrelczyk allowed one run in the ninth when the Crawdads pieced together back-to-back hits, but finally induced a groundout to close the door on his 18th save of the year. Todd picked up the win in relief, while Dorn scored a tough-luck no decision, his fourth of the season.

Paul Gran joined Skipworth in his efforts to rally the offense, as he churned out four hits in five at-bats to pace the Hoppers from the top of the order. The four-hit performance proved a career day for Gran, marking his first four-hit day of the 2009 season, and only the second in his professional career.

The Hoppers, 49-58, have now won seven of their nine meetings with the Crawdads thus far, including six wins at NewBridge Bank Park. They look to continue their success against Hickory tomorrow, when they host the Crawdads for game two of the current set.

First pitch of the day game is scheduled for 12:35 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 5, 2009


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