SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Throttle Intimidators, 10-2, Behind Flurry of Hits

Published on July 6, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - What started out as a pitchers' duel, quickly turned to a one-sided slugfest Tuesday night at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. Knotted at 1-1 through four innings, the Drive (46-37, 10-3) broke the game wide open with a five-run fifth inning versus the Kannapolis Intimidators (35-47, 4-9).

That was more than enough offense as the trio of Pete Ruiz (5-6), Jeremiah Bayer, and Dennis Neuman held Kannapolis to just a pair of runs, scattering ten hits, en route to a 10-2 victory in the third game of the series.

Dan Butler, who rejoined the Drive earlier in the day after spending a week with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, led all batters with five hits and four RBI, while Chris McGuiness and Shannon Wilkerson each chipped in with four hits.

The Drive sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth, recording four hits and taking advantage of a pair of Kannapolis defensive miscues. McGuiness and Butler each knocked in a run with one-out singles before Wilkerson laced a two-run, two-out double off Joe Serafin (7-5). The right-fielder came around to score the inning's final run as Vladimir Frias reached base a fielding error.

With a single run in the sixth and eighth innings, the Drive game themselves a six-run advantage. Wilkerson hit an RBI-single in the sixth and Butler led off the eighth with a solo homer, his sixth of the season.

Greenville capped their scoring with two more runs in their final at bat. It fitting fashion, Butler knocked in both runs with a two-run single, scoring Reynaldo Rodriguez and McGuiness.

With five strong innings, in which he allowed just one run, Ruiz picked up his first win since May 8th. The right-hander surrendered five hits while walking one and fanning six before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Bayer also allowed a run on five hits in three innings, and Neuman tossed a no-hit ninth inning to closeout the victory.

Having already guaranteed a series split, the Drive look to secure another victory on Wednesday in the finale with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Kendal Volz (5-2, 3.68 ERA) will toe the rubber for Greenville, while Kannapolis counters with right-hander Andre Rienzo (0-4, 7.36 ERA).

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 6, 2010


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