Drake Accounts for Half of Rome’s Hits in 5-2 Loss to Hernandez, ‘Hoppers

ROME, Ga – Isaiah Drake’s eighth-inning solo shot to right field barely put a dent in Greensboro’s four-run lead but put him a triple shy of the cycle in the 5-2 loss.

The number three prospect in baseball and the Grasshoppers’ starter in game four, Seth Hernandez, became the first pitcher in Minor League Baseball to reach 100 strikeouts this season with his fifth inning punch out of John Gil. Hernandez exited with the game tied after five innings, having given up three hits and walking three.

Drake’s one-out double in the fourth, Owen Carey’s subsequent single, and Colby Jones’ drawn walk, loaded the bases with two outs for Mason Guerra who would also walk, bringing home the tying run at the time.

But, Back-to-back homers from Sammy Stafura and Murf Gray at the top of the order in the sixth put a damper on Zach Royse’s start up until that point. Another single and a pair of doubles further down the order ran Royse from the game in the sixth. Rome never recovered from the four-run sixth inning, falling 5-2 in game four.

Saturday’s game five versus the Grasshoppers is set for 6:45PM ET.