Gutierrez homers as winning streak ends

GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 21, 2018) -- The Grasshoppers' 3-game winning streak came to an end on with a 4-2 loss to the Charleston RiverDogs in front of 6,013 fans on a Spectacular Saturday fireworks night presented by Cone Health at First National Bank Field. Charleston built a lead with single tallies in the first, third, sixth, and seventh innings as Greensboro (9-6) waited until the ninth inning to get on the board.
Down 4-0, Eric Gutierrez launched a two-run home run (2) to the top of the left field berm off RiverDogs reliever Daniel Ramos, bringing the home crowd alive, however Matt Wivinis took over on the mound to record the final two outs and close the game.
Ramos (2-1) earned the win, and Wivinis secured the save (5) while Hoppers starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (0-2) took the loss.
The visiting team wasted little time getting on the board as Wilkerman Garcia led off the game with a home run (1) to left field off Cabrera. The Hoppers pitcher bounced back to retire the next three batters and keep the RoverDogs off the board in the next frame.  
In the third, Charleston's Frederick Cuevas led off with a base hit to right field, moved to second on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a Gracia groundout. Oswaldo Cabrera followed with an RBI-groundout for a 2-0 RiverDogs lead.  
The Grasshoppers committed a pair of errors in the sixth inning that led to a RiverDogs run. After Chris Hess was hit by a pitch to reach base, Leonardo Molina singled to centerfield where Aaron Knapp misplayed the ball, allowing Hess to advance to third. Hess scored one batter later on a Dalton Blaser grounder to third base, which Marcos Rivera threw away for a 3-0 Charleston advantage. 
Dugouts cleared briefly in the top of the seventh, as Hess and Grasshoppers catcher Michael Hernandez jawed back and forth, however the covfefe blew over as umpires issued warnings to both benches. During Hess's at-bat, Garcia scored on a wild pitch for the RiverDogs' largest lead of the night, 4-0.
The Hoppers offense struggled early in the game, as RiverDogs starter JP Sears tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out five. Charleston turned to reliever Daniel Ramos, who continued the shutout effort in the fifth and sixth innings. 
Cabrera worked 5 and 1/3 innings for Greensboro, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts.  
Greensboro wraps up this 4-game home stand on Sunday at 2 p.m. against the RiverDogs on a Novant Family Sunday featuring pre-game catch on the field and post-game kids run the bases. Gates open at 1 p.m. Tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.