Greenville, N.C. – The Greenville Yard Gnomes opened their season with an 18-2 exhibition win against the Greensboro Ducks. Danny Ramirez and Jon Howard led the way offensively with a combined 9 RBIs, including a 3-run home run and a grand slam, respectively.
Greenville jumped on top of the Ducks early, scoring 15 unanswered runs through the first three innings. Ramirez opened the scoring in the first with a 3-run homer to left-center field, bringing in Jesse Ponce and Jon Howard.
He extended the lead in the second, scoring on a single aided by two errors from the Ducks’ right fielder and first baseman.
Howard capped off an 8-run inning by the Gnomes in the third with the team’s first grand slam of the season, driving in Mitch Jones, Brody Gardner, and Jesse Ponce.
East Carolina outfielder David Lillis and Ty Williams from Lenoir Community College each added a double in the fourth to close the scoring at a staggering 18 runs.
Jacob Boland picked up the win, tossing three hitless innings with two strikeouts. Ducks starter Tyler Lloyd lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing seven runs, only three of which were earned.
Up Next: The Yard Gnomes head north to Petersburg, Va., on Saturday to take on the Tri-City Chili Peppers. They return home Sunday to host the Chili Peppers at 5 p.m. at Guy Smith Stadium.