Grasshoppers Suffer First Shutout Loss of Season

Greensboro's offense suffered its first shutout loss of the year while Augusta leadoff hitter Malique Ziegler continued to find success, leading the GreenJackets to a 5-0 win over the Grasshoppers on Tuesday night at First National Bank Field. Ziegler belted his second home run in as many games against Greensboro (3-2), while the Hoppers offense managed two hits on the night.  

GREENSBORO, NC - Greensboro's offense suffered its first shutout loss of the year while Augusta leadoff hitter Malique Ziegler continued to find success, leading the GreenJackets to a 5-0 win over the Grasshoppers on Tuesday night at First National Bank Field. Ziegler belted his second home run in as many games against Greensboro (3-2), while the Hoppers offense managed two hits on the night.  
Three GreenJackets pitchers combined to hand the Grasshoppers their first shutout loss of the season. Jason Bahr (1-1) earned the win, working 5 and 2/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. Eduardo Rivera tossed 2 and 1/3 innings of relief, striking out four. CJ Gettman tossed the final inning for the save (1).  
Hoppers starter Edward Cabrera (0-1) took the hard-luck loss, allowing a run on one hit and working around five walks while striking out five. Colton Hock provided solid relief, allowing one run over 3.0 innings and striking out five before making way for Bryce Howe in the ninth.  
Augusta manufactured a run in the third inning for a 1-0 lead as Malique Ziegler hit a ground-rule double to right field, moving Logan Baldwin from first to third. One batter later, Heliot Ramos grounded out to bring home Baldwin.  
The GreenJackets doubled their lead to 2-0 in the top of the seventh on Ziegler's second home run in as many games. He finished 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and an RBI. Augusta piled on three runs in the ninth inning to secure their win over Greensboro. 
With the first home stand of the season wrapping up Wednesday morning in a game exclusively for Guilford County School sixth graders, the Hoppers will hit the road on Thursday for their first road trip of the 2018 season. Greensboro is back at First National Bank Field on Thursday, April 19, to open a 4-game home stand against the Charleston RiverDogs. Tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.