Rogers strikes out 5 in pro debut

GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 22, 2018) -- Miami Marlins 2017 first round pick Trevor Rogers made his professional debut in the Greensboro Grasshoppers' 9-3 loss to the Kannapolis Intimidators on Tuesday night at First National Bank Field. Rogers struck out five over 3.0 innings as the starting pitcher for Greensboro (19-22). 
Kannapolis built an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Take Blackman doubled to plate Craig Dedelow before coming around to score on an Anthony Villa base hit. Blackman also scored in the third on an Evan Skoug RBI-single for a 3-0 Intimidators advantage. Dedelow scored again in the fifth on a Marcos Rivera error, and Intimidators hitter Carlos Perez singled to score Blackman for a 5-run lead over Greensboro.
The Grasshoppers broke the shutout in the bottom of the fifth when Sam Castro crossed the plate on a Garvis Lara groundout, and Thomas Jones added an RBI-double to score BJ Lopez.  
Blackman and Villa built the Intimidators' lead back to five, 7-2, with a pair of solo home runs in the top of the seventh to help Kannapolis pull away.
Rogers (0-1) took the loss in his professional debut, allowing three runs on four hits. The 20-year-old left-hander struck out the first two batters he faced and eventually fanned a third to get out of his first inning. Rogers -- the 13th overall pick last June -- finished with five strikeouts and two walks over three frames. Bryce Howe tossed 3.0 relief innings, allowing a pair of unearned runs on six hits, striking out three and walking none to get Greensboro through the sixth.  
Battenfield (4-1) earned the win for the Intimidators, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out eight and walking two over 6.0 innings. Jake Eilliot and Jose Nin combined to work the final 3.0 innings for the Intimidators to close the game.  
The Grasshoppers and Intimidators play Game 3 of this 4-game home stand on Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. with gates opening at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.