SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Fall to Suns, 5-4, in 7-Inning Series Finale

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


Greenville, SC - A trio of home runs by the Hagerstown Suns (43-46, 7-12) proved to be too much for the Drive (49-40, 13-6), as Hagerstown held on for a 5-4 victory in the final game of this five-series.

The contest was an abbreviated, seven-inning affair, as the two teams had finished a suspended game from Sunday - which resulted in a 4-0 Drive victory - just prior to this one.

The Suns opened the scoring in the top of the first when Justin Bloxom blasted a two-run homer to right field off Drive starter Kendal Volz (5-3).

The Suns' power surge continued in the second inning when Marcus Jones tagged Volz for a solo shot to center field that made the score 3-0.

The Drive answered in the bottom of the second with a run of their own via a sacrifice fly to left by Michael Almanzar.

Dan Butler, who had led off the inning with a triple to center, scored on the play.

However, the Suns would increase their lead in the top of the fourth on the strength of a two-run homer by Adrian Nieto.

The home run, which was the Suns' third of the game off Volz, made the score 5-1.

The Drive, though, would not go away quietly, as they began to chip away at the Suns' lead.

In the fifth inning, Michael Almanzar and Reynaldo Rodriguez got things started with back-to-back singles.

Vladimir Frias then drove home Almanzar with a single to right that made the score 5-2.

After Michael Thomas struck out, Jeremy Hazelbaker singled to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Frias was tagged out in a rundown between second and third.

Hazelbaker was then caught stealing at third base to end the inning, thus rendering the Drive incapable of having a bigger inning.

Greenville continued to make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh (which, again, was the final inning in this game), as Frias launched a one-out solo home run just inside the right-field foul pole to make it 5-4.

However, the Drive could not push across another run, and ultimately lost by that tally.

Josh Smoker (2-9) picked up the win for the Suns, as he scattered five hits and gave up three runs in five innings of work, walking none and striking out five along the way.

Rob Wort pitched the final two innings for his seventh save of the season.

Following an off-day on Tuesday, the Drive will be in Savannah on Wednesday to take on the Sand Gnats in the opening game of a five-game series.

Left-hander Drake Britton (0-1, 3.26 ERA) will take the hill for Greenville at Historic Grayson Stadium.

Following the series in Savannah, the Drive return home on Tuesday, July 20th for a four-game series with the Kannapolis Intimidators.

Not only is the first game of the series a BI-LO Tasty Tuesday where kids 12 and under eat free, but it's also "Silly Bandz Night." For more information regarding single-game tickets, group outings, and luxury accommodations visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 12, 2010


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