HICKORY, N.C. (April 26, 2018) -- Aaron Knapp and Eric Gutierrez each homered to power the Grasshoppers past the Hickory Crawdads, 8-5 in seven innings, in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader at L.P. Frans Stadium. Knapp finished 3-for-3 with two RBI, a home run, a walk, a stolen base, and
HICKORY, N.C. (April 26, 2018) -- Aaron Knapp and Eric Gutierrez each homered to power the Grasshoppers past the Hickory Crawdads, 8-5 in seven innings, in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader at L.P. Frans Stadium. Knapp finished 3-for-3 with two RBI, a home run, a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored while Isael Soto also pounded out three hits to pace the Grasshoppers' 12-hit attack.
Starting pitcher Ryan Lillie opened with four shutout innings before getting into trouble in the fifth. He bounced back to work a scoreless sixth, finishing with 6.0 innings pitched, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks. Lillie (1-0) earned the win while posting a career-high eight strikeouts for the second straight game.
Greensboro (12-7) wasted little time jumping in front as Knapp singled to open the game, stole second base, and eventually scored on an Isael Soto base hit for a 1-0 lead. With one out in the third Knapp homered (1) for a 2-0 lead.
The Hoppers hung three runs in the top of the fourth, all with two outs. Following a pair of strikeouts to open the inning, B.J. López kicked off the two-out rally with a line-drive double to right field. Jhonny Santos singled to move Lopez to third and stole second base to put both men in scoring position. Sam Castro came through with a two-run double for a 4-0 lead. Knapp added an RBI-single to cash Castro.
Gutierrez boosted the Hoppers lead to 7-0 with a two-run home run (2) with one out in the top of the fifth.
Hickory returned fire in the home half of the fifth with four runs, capped by Yohel Pozo's three-run home run (2).
In the top of the seventh, Greensboro added a run without the benefit of a hit. Gutierrez walked to open the inning and used a pair of wild pitches to advance to third base before Lopez lifted a sacrifice fly to center field for the eighth Hoppers run of the day.
Tyler Frohwirth gave up a run in the bottom of the seventh before closing out the game.
Crawdads' starter Alex Eubanks (1-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs on 10 hits over 4 and 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking none. Demarcus Evans tossed the final 2 and 2/3 innings for Hickory, giving up a run on two hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Greensboro and Hickory were slated to play the second game of Thursday's doubleheader at 7:00 p.m. at L.P. Frans Stadium, however the game was rained out. The Grasshoppers continue this in-state road trip on Friday, opening a 3-game series at Asheville's McCormick Field against the Tourists at 7:05 p.m. RHP Taylor Braley (1-1, 3.71 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Grasshoppers against Tourists' RHP Will Gaddis (0-1, 5.93 ERA). The Grasshoppers return to First National Bank Field on Tuesday, May 1, to open a 7-game home stand against the Hagerstown Suns (Nationals) and Greenville Drive (Red Sox), and tickets are available at gsohoppers.com.
