SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Experience Late Inning Meltdown, Lose 14-12 in 11 Innings

Published on August 7, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Friday night's game appeared to be a sure victory for the Drive, as they led 12-4 heading into the eighth inning. But the Lexington Legends continued to show their tenacity, scoring eight runs in the final two innings, sending the game into extra frames.

The Legends then finished the improbable come-from-behind victory by scoring two runs in the top of the 11th, to capture a 14-12 win in the series finale.

The Drive's meltdown began in the top of the eighth when Michael Diaz and Brian Pellegrini each reached on fielding errors by leftfielder Mitch Dening. Eric Suttle than collected a one-out, RBI-single and Jeff Hulett followed with a two-run triple, giving Lexington three unearned runs off Jason Blackey.

Two pitchers were used by Greenville in the top of the ninth, but both Chad Povich and Felix Ventura (2-5) had trouble recording outs. In fact, Povich surrendered two runs and was relieved with no outs and the bases loaded. Ventura proceeded to allow all three inherited runners to score before bringing the inning to an end.

The Drive's fourth error of the game, a fielding miscue by rightfielder Shannon Wilkerson, allowed the eventual game-winning run to score in the 11th. Albert Cartwright added an insurance run with an RBI-double.

The beginning of the ballgame was a complete polar opposite for the Drive, who tallied four multi-run innings as they built their eight-run lead. Following a single run in the bottom of the first, Greenville added two more an inning later.

Pete Hissey's RBI-single, scoring Will Middlebrooks and Wilkerson, put Greenville up by run, before they scored three runs apiece in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings.

In the fourth, Oscar Tejeda lifted a sacrifice fly, Casey Kelly collected an RBI-single, and the Drive's final run of the inning came on a fielding error by Chris Jackson. An inning later Tejeda hit another sac fly, and Dening laced his third double, knocking in a pair of runs.

Greenville rounded out their scoring in the bottom of the seventh with their final three runs. Dening knocked in his third run with an RBI-single and later scored on Ryan Lavarnway's single, before Middlebrooks laced an RBI-double.

The Drive now travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky for a four-game series with the Hot Rods. Right-hander Caleb Clay (4-4, 3.82 ERA) will get the ball for Greenville in the opener, as Bowling Green counters with right-hander Joe Cruz (4-6, 3.52 ERA)

Following their four-game road trip, the Drive return home to Fluor Field on Thursday, August 13th for a four-game set with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Dollar Drink Night kicks off the series, as first pitch is set for 7:05 PM.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 7, 2009


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