Puckett's strong start all for naught

GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 17, 2018) -- Brady Puckett dazzled over 7.0 scoreless innings but took no decision as the Grasshoppers lost to the Lakewood BlueClaws, 4-1, on Thursday night at First National Bank Field. Greensboro (16-20) led the entire game until allowing late runs to Lakewood in the ninth.  
Lakewood batted around in the ninth inning against reliever Bryce Howe.  Quincy Nieporte walked with one out, and Yahir Gurrola pinch-ran at first base. Gregori Rivero followed with a drive to deep right field, which carromed off the wall and away from Thomas Jones. Gurrola raced around the bases, scoring from first, on Rivero's stand-up triple, tying the game 1-1. One batter later, the BlueClaws took the lead, 2-1, when Nick Maton singled to cash Rivero.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, the BlueClaws added two more runs thanks to RBI-singles by Dalton Guthrie and Jake Scheiner, chasing Howe from the game.
Julian Garcia (1-1) earned the relief win, striking out the side in a perfect eighth inning. Howe (1-2) took the loss, and BlueClaws reliever Addison Russ converted the save (7) with a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
Puckett worked around five hits and walked none in another 7-inning outing, his fourth start of the season to work through the seventh. He struck out five on the night. Puckett turned the mound over to R.J. Peace in the eighth, and the right-hander spun a perfect frame, striking out two.  
Greensboro manufactured a run in the bottom of the first inning to claim an early lead. With a man on first and one out, Micah Brown walked to push Cameron Banarek into scoring position. Two batters later, Marcos Rivera laced a 2-out single to center field, scoring Banarek for a 1-0 edge.
The Grasshoppers and BlueClaws play Game 2 of this 4-game series on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Friday's game is a FANomenal Fireworks Friday presented by Lincoln Financial, Rock 92, and WMFY News 2, and tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.