Homer-happy Hoppers hammer Hagerstown

GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 2, 2018) -- Michael Hernandez capped a 4-home run day for Greensboro with the Grasshoppers' first walk-off home run of the season in a 10-8 win over the Suns on Wednesday afternoon at First National Bank Field. Hernandez joined Thomas Jones, Jhonny Santos, and Lazaro Alonso in leaving the yard.  
For the second straight day, Greensboro (14-10) let a 6-0 lead slip through its fingers only to break an 8-8 tie with the Hernandez game-winning blast. Jones led off the bottomo of the ninth reaching base on a hit-by-pitch, and Hernandez followed with a big fly that just cleared the left field wall, setting off the stadium's home run fireworks and a team-wide celerbation at home plate.
Dustin Beggs (1-0) earned the relief win, working 3 and 2/3 innings and allowing three runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Suns' reliever Jared Brasher (0-1) took the loss, working 1.0 relief inning and allowing two runs on three hits.  
The Grasshoppers jumped ahead 4-0 with a big second inning, sparked by Jones' 3-run home run (1) in his Greensboro debut. Two batters later, Santos added a solo home run (1) to left field.
In the fourth, Jones doubled to open the inning, and Hernandez followed with an RBI-base hit for a 5-0 lead. Hernandez later scored on an error by Hagerstown starting pitcher Tomas Alastre, growing the Greensboro lead to its largest margin of the afternoon.
The Suns shined brightly in the top of the sixth inning, posting a 5-run frame, anchored by Anderson Franco's 3-run home run. Greensboro extended its lead to 8-5 in the bottom of the seventh as Alonso belted a no-doubt blast over the wall in right field, and Hernandez added another RBI-single.
Hagerstown tied the game with three runs in the top of the eighth on the strength of Franco's second home run (2), a solo shot, and Aldrem Corredor's 2-run home run (2).  
The Grasshoppers wrap up this season with Hagerstown on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. as RHP Taylor Braley takes the mound for Greensboro against Hagerstown's LHP Jackson Stoeckinger. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. for Thirsty Thursday presented by Natty Greene's and 107.5 KZL. Tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.