GREENSBORO, NC - Brian Miller dropped an RBI double down the left field line in the 10th, delivering the Greensboro Grasshoppers to their second straight walkoff win, 3-2 over the Delmarva Shorebirds on Wednesday night at First National Bank Field.With the game tied 2-2, J.C. Millan led off the bottom
GREENSBORO, NC - Brian Miller dropped an RBI double down the left field line in the 10th, delivering the Greensboro Grasshoppers to their second straight walkoff win, 3-2 over the Delmarva Shorebirds on Wednesday night at First National Bank Field.
With the game tied 2-2, J.C. Millan led off the bottom of the 10th with a clean single to center. Aaron Knapp pinch-ran at first base and moved up to second on a Jhonny Santos sac bunt. Rony Cabrera drew an intentional walk, bringing up Miller. On a 3-1 pitch, Miller slashed one off his hands that floated fair down the left field line, bringing Knapp home and setting off a second straight wild celebration for the Grasshoppers (28-22, 65-53).
The Shorebirds (22-29, 51-68) lost their fourth game in walkoff fashion in Greensboro this season. The 'Hoppers took wins in their last at-bat on April 11, May 21, and Tuesday.
Nestor Bautista (1-2) earned the win in relief with two perfect innings in the ninth and 10th, striking out two along the way. Matt Trowbridge (2-4) took the loss after giving up the game-winning run and two hits in 1.1 frames.
Greensboro struck first in the bottom of the fourth. Eric Gutierrez got hit by a pitch with one out, then after a popout Jared Barnes dropped a soft popup over the mound for an infield single. Micah Brown followed with a line drive single into center. Gutierrez came around to score, but the Shorebirds threw Barnes out at third base, ending the inning down just 1-0.
Millan hit a grounder to short that ate up Milton Ramos to lead off the fifth. Two batters later, Cabrera rolled a double into the left field corner, scoring Millan to make it 2-0.
Jake Ring got one of the runs back for Delmarva with a solo home run to right center in the sixth. Ring now has 13 round-trippers this season, 12 of them solo shots, and 60 RBIs.
In the top of the seventh, Alejandro Juvier led off with a single, and Stuart Levy drew a walk to set the table. Cole Billingsley bunted both runners into scoring position, and Ryan McKenna grounded out to deep short to chase home Juvier and make it 2-2. Levy got stranded at third, though, as Ring grounded out to first to end the inning.
The 'Birds' best chance to win it came in the top of the eighth. Collin Woody singled with one out and stole second base. Frank Crinella then beat out an infield single with a grounder to short, and Woody advanced to third. Milton Ramos then drew a walk, loading the bases. Tanner Kirk came up next as a pinch-hitter but struck out on three pitches, and Levy fouled out to third base to leave them loaded.
Juvier finished 2-for-3 with a run for the Shorebirds, who managed just six hits on the night.
Miller went 2-for-5 with the game-winning double. Millan finished 2-for-4 with a run.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Alex Wells put together another fine outing for the Shorebirds, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in five innings. He struck out four and didn't walk anybody, stretching his streak to 58 consecutive innings without issuing a walk.
Ethan Clark went 5.2 strong innings in his return from the DL, giving up one run on three hits while walking five and striking out six.
Kory Groves pitched three scoreless innings in relief for the Shorebirds to keep it close.
The Shorebirds play their final game in Greensboro this season on Thursday night with Lucas Humpal (6-10, 4.10) squaring off against Michael King (9-7, 3.25). First pitch is 7:00 p.m., and pregame coverage on Fox Sports AM 960 and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:45 with Will DeBoer on the call.
