Greensboro gets back over .500
4-run 1st and 5th innings carried the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers to victory on Sunday. With their 8-1 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Grasshoppers are now back to .500 on the season at 44-43.
Bubba Chandler started for Greensboro and flashed why he is in the discussion for being a top 100 prospect. Chandler pitched 5 scoreless innings, allowing a hit, issuing a walk, and striking out six. Chandler induced four ground ball outs and threw 40 of 58 pitches for strikes.
After struggling for much of the season Chandler now has back-to-back strong starts. In his last two starts Chandler has allowed four hits, walked four, and struck out 14 in 10.2 innings pitched. Hopefully a sign of things trending in the right direction for Chandler.
Jack Carey followed Chandler with a scoreless 6th inning. Santiago Florez allowed a solo home run in the 7th inning. Mitchell Miller issued a walk and struck a batter out in a scoreless 8th inning, Eddy Yean then struck out a pair in a scoreless 9th.
Francisco Acuna doubled to start the game, Sammy Siani singled, and Jase Bowen tripled, making the score 2-0 Grasshoppers. Jack Brannigan singled in a run later in the inning and a 4th run scored on a Wyatt Hendrie error.
WIll Matthiessen led the 5th inning off with his 10th home run of the season. Shawn Ross and Luke Brown walked, and Hendrie was hit by a ptich to load the bases. A Brenden Dixon fielders choice and an Acuna single made the score 8-0.