Cabrera deals career-high 8 strikeouts

GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 5, 2018) -- Edward Cabrera struck out a career-high eight batters, and the Hoppers earned a back-and-forth win over the Lakewood BlueClaws, 5-4, on Thursday at First Nationabl Bank Field.  Relief pitcher Colton Hock earned his South Atlantic League-leading ninth win of the season. 
Garvis Lara paced the Hoppers offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. 
The Hoppers broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when Harrison DiNicola doubled to cash Marcos Rivera for the go-ahead run.  
Hock (9-3) tossed 2 and 1/3 innings and struck out four batters while walking none, but a Hoppers errors during his time on the mound resulted in a pair of inherited runners coming home. Cabrera finished with 5 and 2/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits while fanning eight and walking two. Vincenzo Aiello tossed a scoreless ninth for his second save (7) in as many days.  
Lakewood jumped ahead in the first inning when Nick Maton belted a 2-out home run (6) to right-center field for a 1-0 lead. The BlueClaws doubled their advantage in the top of the second when Simon Muzziotti's sacrifice-fly scored Daniel Brito.
The Hoppers wasted little time in retaliating with a 2-run home half of the second inning. Isael Soto led off the frame with a walk, and Lara added a single to put two men on. BlueClaws starting pitcher Spencer Howard fired a wild pitch that moved both men into scoring position, and Micah Brown followed with an RBI-groundout to cash Soto. Howard's second wild pitch of the inning later brought home Lara to tie the game, 2-2.
Greensboro took it's first lead in the bottom of the fourth when Lara blasted a 2-run home run (3) to right field for a 4-2 advantage. However Lakewood knotted the game in the top of the sixth, capitalizing on a Micah Brown throwing error that allowed two runs to come home, leveling the game at 4-4.
Lakewood's Luis Cedeno (0-2) took the loss, allowing a run on one hit over 2.0 innings of relief.  
The Grasshoppers wrap up this 3-game home stand on Friday night against the BlueClaws at 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m., and Friday's game is Military Appreciation presented by WoodmenLife with post-game fireworks presented by Lincoln Financial, Rock 92, and WMFY News 2. Tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.