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Greenville Drive

Drive Can't Keep Pace with GreenJackets, Fall 7-3

August 1, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Augusta, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets (56-49, 21-15) never trailed despite Greenville's best efforts in a 7-3 win over the Drive (55-48, 16-19) on Saturday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

Every time the Jackets lead was threatened, Augusta would step up to put the game out of reach. With their lead reduced to one in the seventh, Francisco Peguero sounded the death knell with a three-run home run to left to extend the Augusta advantage to 7-3.

The Jackets led early on a Wendell Fairley third inning double and grew the lead to two in the fourth. With runners at the corners, Matt Klimas got into a rundown while leading off first that allowed Ehire Adrianza to score, making it a 2-0 lead.

Greenville got a run back in the sixth on Ryan Lavarnway's RBI double but Justin Fitzgerald came out of the bullpen to induce a Jered Stanley groundout to escape the jam. Adrianza singled home two more in the sixth to push the lead back to three runs but Oscar Tejeda answered with a two-run single in the seventh before the Peguero blast tipped the scales in Augusta's favor for good.

Aaron King (5-5) was solid for Augusta, firing 5.2 innings of one-run baseball on just three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. His counterpart, Stolmy Pimentel threw well but took the loss by allowing two runs on five hits in five innings. Pimentel (9-6) walked one and struck out three.

The game marked the Drive debut of outfielder Shannon Wilkerson, an Augusta State product drafted in the 8th round by the Boston Red Sox in this June's draft. Wilkerson went 2-4 with a seventh inning double in front of several friends and relatives.

With a single in the top of the eighth inning, his final at bat, Will Middlebrooks singled to extend his season-high hit streak to 16 games. The streak, which is the longest on the Drive in 2009, also ranks tied for fourth in the South Atlantic League this season.

With Brock Huntzinger (6-8, 4.40 ERA) headed to the mound, Greenville will look to split the four-game series with a win. Orlando Ynetma will make his first start for Augusta with first pitch set for 5:35 PM from Lake Olmstead Stadium.

The Drive return home to Fluor Field on Tuesday, August 4th for a four-game series against the Lexington Legends. Tuesday is also Green Day at Fluor Field, when the Drive celebrate the 178th birthday of the City of Greenville. One citizen is also recognized for their drive and dedication into helping shape Greenville into the city it has become. This year's honoree is C. Dan Joyner. Single-game tickets, group outings, and luxury accommodations can be purchased by calling (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com for more information.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 1, 2009


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