NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (May 14, 2018) -- Grasshoppers reliever Colton Hock tallied five strikeouts over a pair of relief innings, but the Grasshoppers fell again to the GreenJackets, 5-2, on Monday night at SRP Park. Greensboro pitchers combined to strike out 12 on the night, one shy of their season-high
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (May 14, 2018) -- Grasshoppers reliever Colton Hock tallied five strikeouts over a pair of relief innings, but the Grasshoppers fell again to the GreenJackets, 5-2, on Monday night at SRP Park. Greensboro pitchers combined to strike out 12 on the night, one shy of their season-high mark.
The Grasshoppers built a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the offense stalled over the final eight frames. After Augusta got a run back in the second inning, they grabbed the lead for good with three in the third. Ryan Kirby laced a 2-run double to right field, scoring Shane Malheny and Manuel Geraldo for a 3-2 lead. Kirby led all hitters on Monday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and three runs scored -- having a part in all five GreenJackets runs.
Joey Marciano (3-1) earned the win for Augusta, allowing two runs over 6.0 innings, including his final five frames scoreless. Greensboro starting pitcher Taylor Braley (1-4) took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 4 and 2/3 innings.
Braley struck out five batters while walking three before turning the mound over to Nestor Bautista, who struck out two over 1 and 1/3 scoreless frames. Hock then took the mound for the seventh and eighth innings, After inducing a fly out to right field by Orlando Garcia, Hock struck out the next five batters he faced to close the game for Greensboro. The 5-strikeout game matches Hock's season- and career-high, also set against Augusta over 3.0 innings on April 10.
The Grasshoppers wrap up this 7-game road trip on Tuesday morning at 10:35 a.m. at Augusta. The team returns home to First National Bank Field on Thursday to begin an 8-game home stand, and tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.
