July 16, 200619 yr Good news for Hoppers By Jeff Carlton Staff Writer GREENSBORO -- The Grasshoppers were given the rarest of opportunities when Brett Sinkbeil was promoted from short-season Jamestown on Saturday: A pitching rotation consisting entirely of first-round draft picks. As of now, David Humen -- a ninth-round selection in 2003 -- remains in the mix, keeping minor-league baseball's middle class represented. The righthander started Saturday night against Lakewood, a game that featured a rare steal of home by the Hoppers and what has become a common, but much appreciated, finish. A dramatic, game-winning home run. Catcher Brett Hayes provided the crucial blow this time, lining a one-out, full-count pitch over the left-field fence for a 4-3 victory that pulled Greensboro (11-11) to within 4? games of the division-leading BlueClaws. "It seems like we do it every time we're tied or down a run in the ninth," Hayes said. "It's a good time." Sinkbeil, taken 19th overall by the Florida Marlins in June's amateur draft, is scheduled to make his Hoppers debut Monday night against Lakewood. He joins four starters in Greensboro who were taken in the first round a year ago. It's not a five-first-rounder rotation yet, though. Lefty Aaron Thompson will be bypassed when his turn comes to keep his innings down. Humen is slated to pitch again Thursday against Delmarva. "It's definitely an honor and something special," Hayes said of possibly catching a first-round ace every day. "I don't think it's been done before." Sinkbeil, a Missouri State alum who throws a tough sinking fastball and hard slider, was 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in five starts at Jamestown. He's the second player taken in this year's draft to join the Hoppers from the New York-Penn League. Reliever Brad Stone, who threw 12/3 innings Saturday, was promoted July 2. The Hoppers couldn't buy a hit with runners in scoring position against the BlueClaws, so they resorted to stealing one. They left 12 runners on base, stranding at least one every inning until the ninth. When Paul Witt reached third base in the fourth inning, manager Brandon Hyde put it into his head that they might try a straight steal of home. Before the two-strike pitch to Andy Jenkins, Hyde told him this is it. Jenkins took as Witt beat the low pitch home. "It's an instinct play," Hyde said. "You roll the dice, and it works out once in a while." Humen pitched well enough to win it. But a pair of throwing errors by Witt at shortstop led to three unearned runs for Lakewood (16-7), setting the stage for Hayes' late blast.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.