‘Burgers falls in Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. — After a blowout win on Wednesday night, Hub City could not follow up against Greensboro on Thursday. The Grasshoppers (75-48, 34-23) attacked the Spartanburgers (56-67, 22-35) early en route to an 11-4 win.

Greensboro turned to lefty Reinold Navarro on the mound against Hub City's Jormy Nivar , making his High-A debut. Both starters faced the minimum in the first before finding trouble in the second.

Maxton Martin reached to kick off the frame on a dropped third strike. Quincy Scott immediately capitalized with a two-run homer the opposite way. Navarro worked around two walks later in the inning to limit the damage to two. The Grasshoppers immediately tied the game again on back-to-back home runs from Jared Jones and Tony Blanco Jr. to lead off the bottom of the second. Blanco was batting out of order when he slugged the second home run, but it came without appeal from the Spartanburgers. Jhonny Severino then struck out, a spot later than assigned.

After a scoreless top of the third, Greensboro took its first lead. A single and hit batter started the inning. After two outs from Nivar (L, 0-1), Jones walked to load the bases. Severino came to the plate in the correct order and lined in two runs with a single to center field. Blanco followed suit with an RBI single to make it 5-2 Grasshoppers. Anthony Susac relieved Nivar and provided the final out of the third.

Hub City forced Greensboro to its 'pen with the bases full and one out in the fourth. Cesar Aquino entered and rolled a fielder's choice off the bat of Evan Morrison to bring in a run. Gleider Figuereo added another tally with an RBI single to make it 5-4.

Greensboro immediately upped the lead in the fourth off Susac. The righty walked the bases loaded to start the inning. Edward Florentino doubled to right to drive in two runs. An out later, Jones grounded a two-run single back up the middle. The Grasshoppers led 9-4.

Facing Aquino in the fifth, the 'Burgers had a chance to respond. Paxton Kling singled and a pair of walks loaded the bases. Greensboro manager Jose Mosquera went back to his bullpen, and lefty Victor Cabreja (W, 8-4) ended the inning with a strikeout and a flyout. Hub City was held scoreless for the rest of the game.

Kai Wynyard threw 2 2/3 perfect innings from the fourth through sixth. The Grasshoppers tacked on two more runs in the late stages against Cole Roland . Jones roped a second solo homer in the seventh. Dylan Palmer tripled Shalin Polanco home in the eighth.

On Friday, first pitch between Hub City and Greensboro is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET. The Spartanburgers send left-hander Ben DeTaeye (2-0, 8.31 ERA) to the mound, and the Grasshoppers counter with southpaw Jacob Bimbi (5-3, 2.97 ERA).