Greensboro Grasshoppers Outlast Lakewood Blue Claws 7-5

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Greensboro, N.C. – Greensboro was out-hit Tuesday, but the Hoppers effectively used the seven hits they were able to collected, combined with five walks, to earn their third consecutive victory, 7-5, over visiting Lakewood.

Trailing 4-1 after five and a half innings of play, Lakewood's (19-19) Dominic Brown camped
ADVERTISEMENT under a short fly ball to right field for what should have been a routine, inning-ending catch. However, Brown took off for the dugout before completely securing the ball and ultimately dropped it. He combined that with an errant throw to third base which allowed all three base-runners to score and the batter, Adam Howard, landed on third.

It was a play that changed the momentum of the game as Greensboro (21-17) came back to plate three more runs in the seventh inning en route to the 7-5 win.

Center-fielder Justin Jacobs provided an extra skip to Greensboro's step going 2-for-4 in his Grasshoppers debut, including a triple in his first at-bat.

The starting pitching was nearly identical. Both allowed just one run through the first five innings of work and both gave up three more in the sixth inning before being lifted from the game. The difference was that Greensboro's bullpen has been one of the best in the league this season and proved it again Tuesday night by striking out seven batters in 3 1/3 combined innings of work from A.J. Battisto and Don Czyz.

Czyz entered the game with one out in the eighth inning after Battisto gave up a solo home run; he then proceeded to strike out five of the six batters he faced in earning his second save.

Greensboro and Lakewood return to the park early Wednesday for a AIG United Guaranty School Day game set to begin at 10:45 a.m. RHP Colby Miller (1-6, 6.57) will take the mound for the Hoppers; the BlueClaws are expected to counter with RHP Chance Chapman (1-3, 2.90).

For more information about upcoming Grasshopper games, events and promotions, contact the Grasshoppers Box Office at 336-268.2255 or visit www.gsohoppers.com on the World Wide Web.

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 – A.J. Battisto (2-0); Loss – Chris, Kissock (1-1); Save – Don Czyz (2)

Time – 2:44; Attendance – 5,182

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