GREENSBORO, NC - The Grasshoppers opened their four game series with the Lakewood BlueClaws with a 3-2 loss Saturday evening.

The pitcher's duel saw both teams struggle offensively, as each side combined for seven total hits. 

Grasshoppers' lefty Brad Hand (2-6) struggled with command, walking five BlueClaw hitters to receive his second straight loss to Lakewood. Hand allowed just three hits over 5 1/3 but didn't get enough run support to overshadow Lakewood's three run night.

Hand, who tossed three scoreless of his own, surrendered to reliever Brandon Todd who came on to toss 2 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball.  Hoppers closer Pete Andrelczyk followed Todd's stellar outing by working a scoreless ninth frame.

The BlueClaws jumped on the Hoppers early with a solo blast from Designated Hitter Travis d'Arnaud in the first, but saw Grasshoppers' Paul Gran respond with a solo shot of his own in the bottom half of the inning.

The Grasshoppers managed one more run in the third on a Jeremy Synan sacrifice fly, but couldn't muster enough offensive fire power to rally past the BlueClaws' two-run fourth inning.

Torre Langley and Kevin Mattison each singled for the Grasshoppers, while Justin Bass failed to reach base safely, snapping his six-game hitting streak.

BleuClaw starter Heitor Correa (2-1) picked up the win for Lakewood, recording four strikeouts through six innings while scattering just four hits.  After allowing the one run in the home half of the first, Correa settled in to silence the Hoppers' bats and toss five scoreless innings.

Correa has now won his last two starts against the Hoppers, allowing just two runs on two hits in 13 innings of work.  His latest performance gives the BlueClaws a four game winning streak and keeps Lakewood atop the Northern Division standings.

With the loss, the Hoppers (25-24) fall to 2-3 against Lakewood this season, and drop to four and a half games behind the BlueClaws in the Northern Division. 

Right-hander Kyle Kaminska takes the mound for the Hoppers tomorrow, as the Grasshoppers try to avoid a three-game skid in game two of the current series.  The Sunday afternoon contest is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m.