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Greenville Drive

Drive Outlast GreenJackets, 7-6, in 11 Innings

May 6, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Augusta, GA - The Drive's (16-12) offense came alive in the series finale with the GreenJackets (16-12), as they tallied seven runs on 12 hits Thursday night. However, in an error plagued game in which both teams committed four, Greenville needed 11 innings to avoid the sweep and notch a 7-6 victory.

With runs in each of the first three innings off Augusta starter Kyle Vazquez, the Drive mounted a 5-0 lead. A two-out error in the top of the first on Michael Almanzar's batted ball allowed Ronald Bermudez to come to the plate and deliver a two-run triple.

An inning later the first two batters moved into scoring position as Zach Gentile led off with a single and Christian Vazquez followed with a double. Those were the only two hits of the inning, but both runs scored as Vladimir Frias and Jeremy Hazelbaker each recorded run-scoring groundouts.

Back-to-back, one-out doubles by Almanzar and Bermudez in the third gave the Drive a five-run advantage.

But the lead would not hold as the GreenJackets pulled within a run in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four unearned runs off Manuel Rivera. Hector Sanchez's routine grounder which Almanzar misplayed, opened up the flood gates for Augusta.

Almanzar tried to make up for his error in the top of the seventh, when he singled home Derrik Gibson to put the Drive back up by two. But two more errors in the bottom of the inning - this time on Bermudez and Frias - led to two more unearned runs off Anatanaer Batista, knotting the game at 6-6.

As neither team could push across another run in the final two innings of regulation, fans at Lake Olmstead stadium were treated to free baseball as the game went into extra frames.

In the top of the 11th, Chris McGuiness recorded his second hit of the game which ended up being the most important one as he laced an RBI-triple to the right-centerfield corner for the eventual game-winner.

The reigning South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week, Cesar Cabral (1-0) earned the victory as he held the GreenJackets scoreless in the eighth, ninth, and tenth innings. The southpaw allowed two hits and a walk, while fanning three in his outing. Dennis Neuman came on in the 11th to shutdown Augusta, earning his third save.

The Drive now travel to Hickory, NC for a four-game series with the Crawdads (affiliate of the Texas Rangers). In the series opener on Friday at L.P. Frans Stadium, right-hander Roman Mendez (0-1, 9.69 ERA) will toe the rubber for Greenville as Hickory counters with right-hander Matt Thompson (2-0, 2.52 ERA).

Although the Drive do not return home to Fluor Field until Wednesday, May 12, there will be exciting collegiate baseball at the ballpark on May 11th with Furman versus Clemson. 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 May 6, 2010


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