The Henderson Flash got both a solid starting pitching peformance from Josh Kuhns and their middle relief as they took a 5-2 win over the Hoptown Hoppers Monday night in Henderson. The game, which ended a two-game winning streak for Hoptown, had been rained out Sunday night and rescheduled for Monday evening.
Kuhns went four innings in the start for Henderson, giving up no runs on four hits, striking out four and walking none. Middle relievers Adam Weihe and Lucas Quezada combined to go four innings, giving up no runs on two hits, striking out four while walking two.
The Hoppers were finally able to break through in the top of the 9th for a pair of runs, but by that time the Flash had the game firmly under their control.
Henderson took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double from Charlie Rife in the bottom of the second. Brady Morse doubled in the bottom of the third to drive in two more runs and then Ellis Hurt singled in a run as Henderson extended the lead to 4-0.
Henderson added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 5-0 ballgame.
The Hoppers got a two-out, two-run single from Manuel Villalabos in the top of the ninth, but there would be no further rally beyond that point.
Dom Oliverio was 2-4 for the Hoppers with a run scored. Manuel Villalabos ended up 2-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Hoptown starter Jack McGuire was tagged with the loss. McGuire went 2 2/3-innings, giving up four runs on five hits, striking out five and walking four.
