Pompey collects 4 hits on Xmas (in July)

GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 28, 2018) -- Marlins third round pick Tristan Pompey pounded out a career-high four hits to lead the Grasshoppers to an 8-5 win over the Hickory Crawdads in front of 8,055 fans celebrating Christmas in July at First National Bank Field. Greensboro (51-53, 17-18 Second Half) scored three runs in the first inning and three more in the seventh to lead early and pull away late while securing a series win over Hickory by taking the first of games of this 3-game set.
Pompey played the role of Santa during the Grasshoppers popular Christmas in July promotion, delivering timely hits for all the good girls and boys of Greensboro. He finished 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Chris Torres made a strong first impression with Grasshoppers fans, smashing a solo home run in his first place appearance in Greensboro in the second inning. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.  
Hoppers reliever Brandon Miller (3-8) earned the win with 4.0 scoreless innings, working around four hits and striking out four. He joined starting pitcher Edward Cabrera and fellow relievers Nestor Bautista and Jeremy Ovalle to combine to strike out 13 batters, matching the team's season-high for strikeouts in a game.  
Hickory starter Tyler Thomas (0-1) took the loss in his second outing with the Crawdads this season, giving up five runs on six hits while striking out six and walking one in 4.0 innings. 
In the first inning, Thomas Jones and Jose Devers walked and singled, respectively, to set the table for Tristan Pompey. After a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, Pompey laced a single to left field, driving in the duo. Isael Soto later doubled to cash Pompey for a 3-0 lead.  
Hickory's Tyreque Reed homered (1) in the top of the second inning, but Greensboro got the run back in the home half of the inning when Torres smashed a home run (1) to right field. 
The Christmas in July game, presented by Food Lion, has been one of the Grasshoppers most popular promotions in recent years. Fans at Saturday's game enjoyed sledding down Natty's Hill, and a lucky few won prizes thruoghout the night's nine innings of giveaways. The evening culminated with post-game fireworks presented by Cone Health for another Spectacular Saturday at First National Bank Field.
The Crawdads threatened in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs to tie the game, 4-4. Michael Hernandez belted a solo home run (4) for the Grasshoppers, reclaiming the lead for good.The Grasshoppers play for a series sweep on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. against the Crawdads to wrap up this 3-game home stand. Gates open at 3:00 p.m., and tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.
Notes:
- This was Tristan Pompey's eighth career multi-hit game. He surpassed his previous career-high of three hits on July 15 vs. Asheville.
- The crowd of 8,055 is the largest attendance for the Grasshoppers this season with the exception of the Fourth of July.