Aberdeen hands Hoppers fourth loss in a row

GREENSBORO ― Cesar Prieto slapped an 0-2 pitch down the third-base line for an opposite field RBI double, driving in the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning as the Aberdeen IronBirds rallied for a 7-4 win over the Greensboro Grasshoppers at First National Bank Field on Friday night.

Prieto went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs, his key double and three RBIs to lead the IronBirds to their fourth consecutive victory over the Grasshoppers.

Collin Burns was 3-for-5 for Aberdeen, and John Rhodes doubled, singled and drove in a run.

Hoppers designated hitter Henry Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's amateur draft, went 2-for-3 with an RBI double to raise his batting average to .349. Davis was also hit by a pitch for the fifth consecutive game ― Sunday at Winston-Salem and each game of this series against Aberdeen.

Hudson Head, a 21-year-old outfielder rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 22 prospect in Pittsburgh's farm system, went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Endy Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Matt Gorski extended his hitting streak to six games, homering for the third time in his last five games. Gorski two-run home run left the bat at 105 mph and landed 403 feet away, well beyond the left-field wall.

The Hoppers broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning when Head singled, got a running start on a two-out, 3-2 pitch to Rodriguez, and scored all the way from first base on Rodriguez's single to right field.

But the lead wouldn't stand.

Right-handed reliever Jack Carey (0-2) gave up three runs in three innings to take the loss. He walked one and struck out four.

Aberdeen's Noah Denoyer (3-0) allowed one run in four innings of relief. Right-hander Clayton McGinness struck out the side in the ninth inning for his second save.

NOTES: Henry Davis is 7-for-12 and has reached base 11 times against Aberdeen with two games remaining in this series. ... Pirates prospect Endy Rodriguez ― a versatile player who has played first base, second base, left field and catcher ― is 15-for-50 (.300) with six multi-hit games in 12 starts. The 21-year-old is rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 7 prospect in Pittsburgh's farm system. ... Matt Gorski has hit safely in eight of his last nine games. ... Infielder Jackson Glenn went 0-for-4 and failed to reach base for the first time this season, snapping an eight-game on-base streak. ... The Hoppers (4-9) trail Aberdeen (10-3) by six games in the South Atlantic League Northern Division standings.