LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 8, 2018) -- Isael Soto drove in a career-high five runs to pace the Grasshoppers in an 11-10 win in 11 innings over the Legends on Sunday afternoon at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Soto finished 3-for-5 with a home run as Greensboro scored six runs over the eighth
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 8, 2018) -- Isael Soto drove in a career-high five runs to pace the Grasshoppers in an 11-10 win in 11 innings over the Legends on Sunday afternoon at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Soto finished 3-for-5 with a home run as Greensboro scored six runs over the eighth and ninth innings to force extra innings en route to the comeback win.
Both the Hoppers and Legends pounded out 15 hits in an offensively charged afternoon. The two teams combined for five home runs and 12 extra-base hits.
With the game tied 10-10 and Garvis Lara starting the top of the 11th on second base, Tristan Pompey -- the Marlins 2018 third round draft pick -- laid down a sac-bunt to move the go-ahead run to third. Soto followed with a soft liner into right field to cash Lara for an 11-10 lead. Sean Guenther, who recorded the final out of the bottom of the 10th, returned to face the meat of the Legends order and retired Seuly Matias, Dennicher Carrasco, and Sebastian Rivero to close the game.
Guenther (1-0) earned the win with 1 and 1/3 relief innings, while Garrett Suchey (0-1) took the loss with an unearned run allowed while working the 11th for Lexington.
With Lexington ahead 8-2 after five innings -- thanks to three in the second and five in the fifth -- Greensboro rallined in the top of the eighth with a 5-run frame of their own. Jose Devers, Garvis Lara, and Tristan Pompey led off the frame with three straight base hits to get one run back before Soto belted a 3-run blast to pull the Grasshoppers within two, 8-6. With the basepaths empty and no outs, Tad Ratliff replaced Collin Snider on the mound. Micah Brown smacked a 1-out double, and Michael Hernandez drove him in with an RBI-single to cut the Legends' lead to one.
In the top of the ninth, the Grasshoppers tied the game, 8-8, on Soto's sacrifice-fly to cash Devers. Vincenzo Aiello took the mound in the bottom of the ninth and tossed a scoreless frame to pitch Greensboro into extra innings.
With a runner starting on second base due to Minor League Baseball's new pace-of-play rules, Greensboro nearly squandered its opportunity in the top of the 10th as both Brown and Harrison DiNicola flew out to open the inning. Hernandez followed with an RBI-double to score Ricardo Cespedes from second base. Rodrigo Ayarza singled, and Devers laid down a sacrifice bunt that Legends third baseman Dennicher Carrasco threw away as Hernandez crossed the plate for a 10-8 lead.
In the home half of the 10th with Cal Jones starting on second base for Lexington, Ricky Aracena and Matt Morales slapped singles to push Jones across the plate, pulling the Legends within a run. Brewer Hicken cashed Aracena with a sac-fly to eventually force the 11th inning.
Hoppers starting pitcher Brandon Miller worked 4 and 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits while striking out four and walking one. Nestor Bautista and Michael Mertz combined for 3 and 2/3 scoreless relief innings.
Soto's 5-RBI night matched the most by a Hoppers hitter in a game this season, equalling Zach Sullivan's 5-RBI game on May 9 at Asheville. Soto and Hernandez eached finished 3-for-5 while Lara, Pompey, Brown, and Ayarza also enjoyed a multi-hit game.
Greensboro and Lexington play the rubber-match of this 3-game series on Monday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark at 7:05 p.m. The Grasshoppers return home to First National Bank Field to start a 7-game home stand on Wednesday, and tickets are available online at gsohoppers.com.
