GREENSBORO -- After being the saviors of the Greensboro Grasshoppers for most of the first half of the season, the bullpen has started to run out of steam as the season winds down.
The bullpen surrendered seven hits, seven runs and four walks in three innings of work, and the Grasshoppers lost to the Greenville Drive 12-6 on Tuesday night at NewBridge Bank Park. Greenville snapped a five-game losing streak.
"We saw this coming early in the season," Greensboro manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "The bullpen was really good early on, but the starters haven't been going more than five innings most of the year. That puts a lot of pressure on the bullpen."
Early in the season the Grasshoppers had many solid pitchers in the bullpen, but due to injuries, promotions and one retirement, the bullpen is certainly not as strong. Kris Harvey, a converted outfielder, is the newest edition. He was playing right field for the Carolina Mudcats in July, but decided to pitch and spent a month in the Gulf Coast League.
He made his debut for the Hoppers in the sixth inning and got the last out. But that would be his best moment of the game.
After Greensboro tied the game again at 5, Harvey could not hold the lead, running into immediate trouble in the seventh inning after the leadoff batter reached on an error. The Drive then scored five runs to take a 10-5 lead, with the big hit being a double from David Marks that knocked in two runs.
"They (Marlins) want to see what he can do," Rodriguez said. "His slider was good, but it was out of the strike zone. I think it's just a matter of him getting the feel of throwing that pitch for a strike."
Greensboro got started with a three-run second inning. The two-out rally started when Justin Jacobs walked and Tom Hickman followed with his 14th home run over the right field wall. Tyler Belcher followed with only his second home run of the season.
"This team has showed a lot of character this year by coming from behind as much as they have," Rodriguez said. "But you can't do that for five months. When you are trailing early, it puts a lot of pressure on your offense. It takes away sacrifice bunts and the hit and run."
BOX SCORE
GREENVILLE GREENSBORO
|
|
AB | R | H | BI | AB | R | H | BI | |
| Mallman cf | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Curry 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Penprase 2b | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Ontiveros ss | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| F.-Oliva 1b | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | Stanton cf | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Stanley lf | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Domingz 3b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marks dh | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Mense 1b | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Tejeda ss | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | Jacobs rf | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Almanzar 3b | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Hickman lf | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Cabreja rf | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Belcher c | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Vazquez c | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Martinez dh | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 43 | 12 | 16 | 12 | Totals | 34 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
|
Greenville |
003 | 002 | 502 | -- | 12 | |
| Greensboro | 031 | 001 | 010 | -- | 6 |
|
Greenville |
ip | h | r | er | bb | so |
| Povich | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Miller W, 2-3 | 22/3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Ventura | 11/3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Greensboro | ip | h | r | er | bb | so |
| Sanabia | 52/3 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Harvey L, 0-1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Cishek | 12/3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Gunter | 2/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Who: Greensboro Grasshoppers vs. Greenville (S.C. ) Drive
When: 12:30 p.m. today
Where: NewBridge Bank Park, Greensboro
Tickets: $6-$9.
Call 268-2255 or go online to www.gsohoppers.com
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