SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Shutout Suns, 4-0, in Completion of Suspended Game

Published on July 12, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Having pitched three scoreless innings in Sunday's game before it was suspended due to rain, Drive starter Pete Ruiz must have been disappointed that his strong effort was cut short.

His teammates did not disappoint him.

Chris Court (3-0) and Dennis Neuman combined for six innings of shut-out relief to lead the Drive (49-39, 13-5) to a 4-0 victory over the Hagerstown Suns (42-46, 6-12) Monday at Fluor Field, in what was a continuation of Sunday's game.

Court went four innings and picked up the win, yielding just three hits while walking none and striking out a batter.

Neuman finished the game for Greenville with a scoreless eighth and ninth, as he gave up just a hit and a walk while fanning two.

The relief duo added to what was a good, albeit short, outing by Pete Ruiz on Sunday night.

Ruiz had pitched three shut-out innings while giving up three hits and striking out five batters.

As far as the offense was concerned the Drive, after three scoreless innings Sunday night, pushed a run across the board in the fourth inning of the game - their first inning at the plate on Monday.

Reymond Fuentes reached on a two-out RBI-single off Hagerstown reliever Luis Garcia (1-2) and then stole second base before Michael Almanzar drove him home with a double to left field.

Up 1-0, the Drive extended their lead three innings later, in the bottom of the seventh against Hagerstown reliever Shane Erb.

Almanzar and Christian Vazquez led off the frame with consecutive singles, and Vladimir Frias laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners over to second and third.

With the infield in, Jeremy Hazelbaker continued his hot hitting at home with a single up the middle that scored Almanzar for a 2-0 lead.

Hazelbaker then stole second base.

After Derrik Gibson struck out, Suns catcher Sandy Leon threw the ball away past third base on a failed pickoff attempt during Chris McGuiness's at-bat.

The error allowed both Vazquez and Hazelbaker to score, thus putting the Drive up 4-0.

The Drive and Suns finish out this five-game set with Monday's originally scheduled game taking place 30 minutes after the conclusion of Sunday's game.

Right-hander Kendal Volz (5-2, 3.79 ERA) takes the mound against Hagerstown southpaw Josh Smoker (1-9, 7.30 ERA).

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 July 12, 2010


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