Miller Time! Starter works 6.0 strong IP

GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 24, 2018) -- The Grasshoppers built an early lead in support of starting pitcher Brandon Miller en route to a 5-2 win over the Kannapolis Intimidators on Thursday at First National Bank Field. Miller (1-3) earned his first win of the season while striking out six over 6.0 innings.
Miller limited the Intimidators to two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk. Colton Hock took the mound in the seventh and tossed a pair of scoreless innings before giving way to Vincenzo Aiello, who struck out two in a scoreless ninth for the save (1) in his Grasshoppers debut.
The Hoppers plated two runs in the bottom of the first for the early advantage. Cameron Baranek and Jose Devers each walked to open the inning. Jhonny Santos laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Intimidators starting pitcher Zach Lewis threw wide of first base, allowing Baranek to score on the error. Devers later scored on a Lazaro Alonso groundout for a 2-0 lead.
The lead didn't last long as Kannapolis tied the game in the top of the second as Anthony Villa and Justin Yurchak both scored on Nolan Brown's line-drive single to center field, knotting the game at 2-2.
Greensboro reclaimed the lead, 3-2, in the third when Baranek walked, stole second base, moved to third on a Devers fly out, and crossed the plate on a Santos groundout. 
Garvis Lara added an insurance run in the seventh inning by blasting a solo home run to right-center field. Alonso added an RBI-single to cash Devers to boost the lead to three.  
Lewis (1-1) took the loss for Kannapolis, allowing three runs (two earned) on a hit and four walks while striking out one.  
The Grasshoppers hit the road for the team's next seven games with four at Hagerstown followed by three in Lakewood. The team returns to Greensboro for a 3-game home stand against the West Virginia Power on Friday, June 1, and tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.