Greensboro Grasshoppers Game Highlights, Box Score and Play-by-Play - A, South Atlantic League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Lake County - 6  Greensboro - 8  Box Score attached. - Greensboro, N.C. – Bryan Petersen and Ryan Curry hit back-to-back home runs for Greensboro to lead off the bottom half of the first inning as the Hoppers took the series finale, 8-6, against Lake County to snap a nine-game home losing streak.

A three-hit, four-run first inning may have disappointed some fans, but the Hoppers (19-17) made sure to put on a show of their own in the home half of the frame. Petersen started in the leadoff spot for manager Edwin Rodriguez’s lineup and it proved to be just the kick the Hoppers needed as the right-fielder slugged his fourth home run of the season in Greensboro ’s first plate appearance of the afternoon. Curry followed with his sixth homer of the season to pull the Hoppers within two.

Cristhian Martinez was able to collect his composure after a rough first inning on the mound left the game after five-plus innings of work with a 7-5 lead. From the bullpen, Don Czyz , Corey Madden and Garrett Parcell combined to toss four shutout innings and Martinez garnered his fourth victory while Parcell earned his eighth save.

With one out in the fifth inning, Lake County ’s Chris Archer walked Curry and hesitated on an infield grounder allowing Hunter Mense to reach first on a fielder’s choice and Curry to advance safely to second. After walking Ryan Anetsberger to load the bases, Josh Judy came in to relieve Archer and allowed Tom Hickman to hit a bases-clearing double to give Greensboro the lead.

Hickman was walked to lead of the fourth inning, extending his consecutive games on-base streak to 17. He later scored the first of two Greensboro runs in the inning as the Hoppers narrowed the gap to one before providing the eventual game-winning hit.

The win came on just six hits and snapped a franchise-long, nine-game home losing streak for the Hoppers, keeping Greensboro in third place of the South Atlantic League’s Northern Division, three games back of Lake County.

Greensboro continues its eight-game homestand Monday in the first of four games against Lakewood . The series is packed with excitement for the fans including “Babe’s Bark in the Park” on Tuesday, AIG United Guaranty School Day on Wednesday and the homestand finale falls on Thirsty Thursday.

RHP Brett Durand (4-1, 6.00) will take the mound in the series opener Monday at 7:00 p.m. ; Lakewood is scheduled to counter with RHP Julian Sampson (2-1, 6.12).

The Grasshoppers have welcomed over 1,250,000 fans to NewBridge Bank Park , becoming the only Class A team in the history of Minor League Baseball to draw over 400,000 fans and grow its attendance for three straight years in a new ballpark . They are the proud recipients of both the South Atlantic League's Club Merit Award and the General Manager of the Year Award for the past three years.

Postgame Quick Stats

Win – Cristhian Martinez (4-1); Loss – Chris Archer (1-5); Save – Garrett Parcell (8)

Time – 2:41 ; Attendance – 3,545

Greensboro Grasshoppers 8, Lake County Captains 6           Play-by-Play
May 11, 2008

Captains starting lineup:
Lucas Montero (LF), Karexon Sanchez (3B), Roman Pena (CF), Matthew Brown (RF), Chris Nash (DH), Jeffrey Hehr (1B), Michael Valadez (C), Ron Rivas (SS), Mark Thompson (2B), Christopher Archer (P),

Grasshoppers starting lineup:
Bryan Petersen (CF), Ryan Curry (2B), Hunter Mense (DH), Ryan Anetsberger (1B), Thomas Hickman (LF), Michael Stanton (RF), Ben Lasater (3B), Jameson Smith (C), Osvaldo Martinez (SS), Cristhian Martinez (P),

Umpires -- Anthony Jordan (HP), Mario Seneca (1B), (2B), (3B).

Gametime Weather: 60 degrees, Cloudy.
Wind: 10 MPH, L To R.

First pitch by C. Martinez at 05:01 PM local time.

Captains 1st (Captains 4, Grasshoppers 0) -- L. Montero walks. With K. Sanchez batting, L. Montero steals 2nd base. K. Sanchez flies out to M. Stanton, L. Montero to 3rd. R. Pena singles through the hole at second base, L. Montero scores. M. Brown flies out to T. Hickman. C. Nash singles through the hole at shortstop, R. Pena to 2nd. J. Hehr hits a home run to left field on a 0-0 pitch, R. Pena scores; C. Nash scores. M. Valadez pops out to R. Curry. 
      (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Grasshoppers 1st (Captains 4, Grasshoppers 2) -- B. Petersen hits a home run to center field on a 0-0 pitch. R. Curry hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch. H. Mense walks. R. Anetsberger grounds out, C. Archer to J. Hehr, H. Mense to 2nd. T. Hickman flies out to L. Montero. M. Stanton flies out to M. Brown. 
      (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Captains 2nd (Captains 4, Grasshoppers 2) -- R. Rivas grounds out, O. Martinez to R. Anetsberger. M. Thompson lines out to R. Curry. L. Montero flies out to B. Petersen. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Grasshoppers 2nd (Captains 4, Grasshoppers 2) -- B. Lasater struck out looking. J. Smith grounds out, R. Rivas to J. Hehr. O. Martinez walks. B. Petersen struck out looking. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Captains 3rd (Captains 5, Grasshoppers 2) -- K. Sanchez flies out to M. Stanton. R. Pena grounds out, O. Martinez to R. Anetsberger. M. Brown singles through the hole at second base. C. Nash doubles to left field, M. Brown scores. J. Hehr grounds out, B. Lasater to R. Anetsberger. 
      (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Grasshoppers 3rd (Captains 5, Grasshoppers 2) -- R. Curry flies out to R. Pena. H. Mense walks. With R. Anetsberger batting, H. Mense caught stealing 2nd base, M. Valadez to M. Thompson. R. Anetsberger grounds out, M. Thompson to J. Hehr. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Captains 4th (Captains 5, Grasshoppers 2) -- M. Valadez grounds out, C. Martinez to R. Anetsberger. R. Rivas doubles through the hole at shortstop. M. Thompson grounds out, B. Lasater to R. Anetsberger. L. Montero grounds out, O. Martinez to R. Anetsberger. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Grasshoppers 4th (Captains 5, Grasshoppers 4) -- T. Hickman walks. M. Stanton singles to left field, T. Hickman to 3rd; M. Stanton to 2nd on the throw. B. Lasater out on a sacrifice fly to M. Brown, T. Hickman scores; M. Stanton to 3rd. J. Smith out on a sacrifice fly to M. Brown, M. Stanton scores. O. Martinez pops out to R. Rivas. 
      (2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Captains 5th (Captains 5, Grasshoppers 4) -- K. Sanchez singles to right field. R. Pena pops out to O. Martinez. M. Brown walks, K. Sanchez to 2nd. C. Nash hit by pitch, K. Sanchez to 3rd; M. Brown to 2nd. J. Hehr grounds into double play, O. Martinez to R. Curry to R. Anetsberger, C. Nash out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Grasshoppers 5th (Grasshoppers 7, Captains 5) -- B. Petersen flies out to L. Montero. R. Curry walks. H. Mense reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by C. Archer, R. Curry to 2nd. R. Anetsberger walks, R. Curry to 3rd; H. Mense to 2nd. Pitcher Change: J. Judy replaces C. Archer. T. Hickman doubles to right field, R. Curry scores; H. Mense scores; R. Anetsberger scores. M. Stanton pops out to M. Valadez in foul territory. B. Lasater strikes out swinging. 
      (3 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Captains 6th (Grasshoppers 7, Captains 6) -- M. Valadez hit by pitch. R. Rivas singles through the hole at second base, M. Valadez to 3rd. Pitcher Change: D. Czyz replaces C. Martinez. M. Thompson grounds into double play, O. Martinez to R. Curry to R. Anetsberger, M. Valadez scores; R. Rivas out at 2nd. L. Montero grounds out, R. Anetsberger to D. Czyz. 
      (1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Grasshoppers 6th (Grasshoppers 8, Captains 6) -- J. Smith reaches on fielding error by J. Hehr, J. Smith to 2nd. O. Martinez bunt singles to shortstop, J. Smith to 3rd. B. Petersen grounds into double play, J. Judy to R. Rivas to J. Hehr, J. Smith scores; O. Martinez out at 2nd. R. Curry flies out to R. Pena. 
      (1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)

Captains 7th (Grasshoppers 8, Captains 6) -- K. Sanchez grounds out, R. Curry to R. Anetsberger. R. Pena strikes out swinging. M. Brown reaches on fielding error by B. Lasater. C. Nash flies out to B. Petersen. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)

Grasshoppers 7th (Grasshoppers 8, Captains 6) -- H. Mense singles through the hole at second base. R. Anetsberger strikes out swinging and H. Mense caught stealing 2nd, M. Valadez to M. Thompson. T. Hickman hit by pitch. M. Stanton struck out looking. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Captains 8th (Grasshoppers 8, Captains 6) -- Defensive Substitution: E. Ontiveros replaces third baseman B. Lasater, batting 7th, playing 3rd. Pitcher Change: C. Madden replaces D. Czyz. J. Hehr singles through the hole at shortstop. M. Valadez grounds into double play, O. Martinez to R. Curry to R. Anetsberger, J. Hehr out at 2nd. R. Rivas strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Grasshoppers 8th (Grasshoppers 8, Captains 6) -- Pitcher Change: D. Cawiezell replaces J. Judy. E. Ontiveros strikes out swinging. J. Smith strikes out swinging. O. Martinez struck out looking. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Captains 9th (Grasshoppers 8, Captains 6) -- Pitcher Change: G. Parcell replaces C. Madden. M. Thompson singles through the hole at shortstop. L. Montero flies out to B. Petersen. K. Sanchez grounds into double play, R. Curry to R. Anetsberger, M. Thompson out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Final: Grasshoppers 8, Captains 6

WP: Cristhian Martinez (4-1).
LP: Christopher Archer (1-5).
SV: Garrett Parcell (8).
Time: 2:41.
Attendance: 3545.
Official Scorer: Paul Wirth.

Subcribe to MLN Sports Zone (SZ) the magazine of Minor League and Alternative Professional Sports for just $5.99! That's 50% off the full subscription price! Use discount code: BMR and SAVE 66% off of the Cover Price!!!

Enclosure