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GREENSBORO -- Greensboro opened an eight-game homestand having lost 15 of its last 18 games. But the Hoppers scored three unearned runs in the first inning and Brett Durand continued a stretch of strong pitching, leading to an 8-1 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats Wednesday night at NewBridge Bank Park.

Ozzie Martinez reached on an error to lead off the first inning and came around to score on a single by Bryan Petersen. The Hoppers tacked on two more runs in the inning, giving Durand all the support he would need.

Greensboro's starter came into the game having allowed one earned run in 11 innings in July. He retired eight straight batters and was working on a no-hitter until he allowed a solo homer by Juan Lagares. But by that time, the Hoppers had built a seven-run lead and the shot was only a temporary setback.

"He was attacking the hitters and pitching to contact," Greensboro manager Edwin Rodriguez said of Durand. "You have to be aggressive and be ahead in the count. If you do that, you're going to locate your pitches better and your fielders are ready to make a play."

Durand breezed through six innings, throwing 67 pitches and allowing one run on two hits. But Rodriguez lifted him to get some innings in for Steve Cishek and Corey Madden, who combined for three scoreless frames.

Petersen, who came in batting .325 with five homers and nine RBIs in July, continued to swing a hot stick. He launched a three-run homer, his 19th of the season, in the second inning to make the score 7-0.

"He's been making some adjustments with his approach at the plate and it's paying off," Rodriguez said of his center fielder. "We've been seeing that the last three weeks. He's been making solid contact. He's been more aggressive and more selective at the plate. He's been getting big hits for us."

Petersen finished with a season-high four RBIs.

The Hoppers capped the scoring in the eighth, when Ryan Curry took fireballing reliever Junior Guerra for a homer to left. The pitch after the home run hit 96 mph on the scoreboard radar.

Greensboro had been facing heat all night, as pitching coach John Duffy remarked that Savannah starter Maikel Cleto hit 98 earlier in the game. Rodriguez praised the Sand Gnats pitchers, saying they were the fastest the team had faced all year.

But the story of the game was Durand (8-5), who took the team lead in wins with the victory. It was his first win since June 12th and his first home victory since May 12