SAL1 Greenville Drive

Delmarva Doubles Up Drive, 4-2

Published on April 9, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Less than a year and a half removed from Tommy John surgery, Drake Britton is still working on getting his command back. He continued to make strides Friday night at Fluor Field, but was on the wrong end of the score as the Shorebirds (1-1) defeated the Drive (1-1), 4-2.

The southpaw's command got off to a shaky start as he walked the leadoff batter, T.J. Baxter, and then threw wide of first base for an error on Tyler Kelly's sacrifice bunt attempt. Both runners scored on Levi Carolus' two-bagger before Britton (0-1) retired the next three.

The Drive plated a run of their own in the first, on Shannon Wilkerson's grounder to second, but stranded runners on second and third.

A leadoff triple by Steve Bumbry, his first of two on the evening, followed by a sacrifice fly by Michael Ohlman put the Shorebirds back up by two runs, as Britton exited after 4.0 innings.

Again, Greenville answered with a run of their own, pulling within a run in the bottom of the fourth. Wilkerson ripped a one-out triple to deep centerfield and scored on Reymond Fuentes' groundout.

But in Delmarva's second to last at bat, they added an insurance run off reliever Kendal Volz. Bumbry's second triple scored Mike Planeta.

A trio of ‘Birds relievers held the Drive scoreless over the final 5.0 innings, with Jake Smith (1-0) picking up the win, and Josh Dowdy shutting the door in the ninth for his first save.

Although the Drive out-hit the Shorebirds, 9-7, the young team was unable to come up with a key hit as they left 11 runners on base. However, the Drive did showoff their speed with five stolen bases - two apiece by Fuentes and Jeremy Hazelbaker, and one by Wilkerson.

A night after being one of four Drive batters with two hits, Chris McGuiness paced the offense with a 3-for-4 effort. The Charleston native and alumnus of The Citadel drew a first inning walk before singling in his next three plate appearances.

The Drive and Shorebirds meet in game three of the first series of 2010, Saturday night with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Greenville will send their second consecutive southpaw to the mound, Manuel Rivera, as Delmarva counters with right-hander Matt Hobgood - the Orioles top selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

As Opening Week, presented by Carolina First, continues tomorrow at Fluor Field it will be Wild Wild West Night at the ballpark. For more information regarding single-game tickets, group outings, and luxury accommodations, visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 9, 2010


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