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GREENSBORO — No John Raynor, no problem.

In the first game without their All-Star right fielder, leading hitter and the league’s top base-stealer, the Grasshoppers used a few Cousins Wednesday night to win their second straight against Hickory at First Horizon Park.

With Raynor out of the lineup after suffering a dislocated finger Tuesday night, right fielder Scott Cousins blasted three home runs — including a grand slam in the second inning — and blew open a high-scoring affair with the South Atlantic League Northern Division-leading Crawdads.

Cousins’ offensive explosion was more than enough to make up for a shaky outing from starter Tom Cowley and Greensboro’s bullpen as the Hoppers held off Hickory for a 13-7 win.

"We took the other approach," Hoppers manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "Three-run homers will do it without John Raynor."

After Hickory jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Jonel Pacheco’s two-run homer in the top of the first, Cousins answered with a two-run blast. One night after Hoppers center fielder Greg Burns blasted a solo shot onto Eugene Street, Cousins one-upped him. With one on in bottom of the first, Cousins hammered a Matt McSwain fastball over the outfield netting in right and cleared Eugene altogether.

In his next at-bat, Cousins smashed a hanging change-up from McSwain over the right-field wall — this one with the bases loaded. Then with two on in the eighth, Cousins rode a Felipe Garcia fastball over the right-center field wall and onto Eugene Street again. The three home runs gave Cousins 17 for the season.

Cousins’ nine-RBI night came just short of tying Los Angeles Angels outfielder Garret Anderson’s 10-RBI outburst Tuesday against the New York Yankees. James Barbe holds the South Atlantic League record for most RBIs in a game with 10 in 1978.

"Just give it to him," hitting coach Anthony Iapoce joked with regard to the record. "He walked with a guy on third, he wasn’t being selfish up there."

The three-homer, nine-RBI performance was the best of Cousins’ career.

"After I hit the second one I was thinking, 'Wow, six RBIs, that’s the most I’ve ever had in one night,’ " Cousins said. "But at that point as a hitter it’s important to get greedy and not give at-bats away. Hickory is in first place, and they’re going to keep battling."

Greensboro pitchers gave up 14 hits but limited the damage with timely strikeouts and groundballs. After stranding six base-runners Tuesday, Hickory left 11 more on the base paths Wednesday.

Second baseman James Guerrero started at the top of the order and did his best Raynor impersonation, going 3-for-3 with two walks, four runs scored and a stolen base.

"The MVP of the game was definitely Cousins," Rodriguez said. "But Guerrero took two at-bats that basically sealed the game. He set the tempo for the night."

X-rays on Raynor’s right ring finger were negative, and the Hoppers expect to have him back within the next few days.

The Hoppers have won eight of their last 10 and with 11 games left on the schedule, find themselves 4½ games out of first place and an automatic playoff berth.

"Tomorrow night is very important," Cousins said. "We’ve definitely got to come out like it’s the last game of the season and take this third game from Hickory."

Contact Matt Brooks at 373-7047 or mbrooks@news-record.com