Pompey homers but Hoppers fall

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (July 25, 2018) -- Tristan Pompey homered in the seventh inning to help Greensboro build its lead, but Lakewood rallied with four runs in home half of that inning to hand the Grasshoppers a 7-5 loss on Wednesday afternoon at FirstEnergy Park. Greensboro scored five runs from the fourth through seventh innings to take a 5-3 lead before falling to Lakewood for the third straight day.
BlueClaws starter Spencer Howard struck out 10 batters over 5 and 1/3 innings before reliever Luis Cedeno (1-2) gave up a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings for a blown save, only to earn the win after the home team rallied. Connor Brogdon tossed scoreless eighth and ninth innings for the save (3).
Greensboro starter Colton Hock (9-4) took the loss in a career-long outing, working 6 and 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking none. Reliever Jeremy Ovalle, who was also charged with a blown save, allowed a run on three hits in 1 and 2/3 innings to close the game.
Isael Soto led the Grasshoppers offense with three RBI, going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. He belted a 2-run double in the sixth before scoring on a Michael Hernandez base hit as Greensboro put up a 3-run frame to pull ahead, 4-3. Pompey homered (2) one inning later to grow the lead before Lakewood began its rally.
The BlueClaws sent a hit-parade to the plate as five of the first six batters hit safely to open the inning. Nick Maton, Matt Vierling, and Daniel Brito all singled to load the bases, and Quincy Nieporte followed with a sac-fly to tie the game, ending the afternoon for Hock. Gregori Rivera welcomed Ovalle to the mound with a 2-run double, and Josh Stephen added an RBI-single to cap the big inning.
The game began after a 43-minute rain delay.
The Grasshoppers wrap up this 8-game road trip on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Park as the team looks to avoid a sweep against the BlueClaws. The team returns to Greensboro on Friday to open a 3-game home stand, and tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.