SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Fall to RiverDogs for Second Straight Night

Published on July 29, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Charleston, SC - It appeared early on that two big swings by the RiverDogs (48-55, 17-17) would propel them to victory.

But after squandering a 3-0 lead, Kelvin Castro delivered the game-winner with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Drive (57-47, 21-13), 4-3.

With the game locked in a 3-3 stalwart in the bottom of the eighth, Luke Murton singled against Anatanaer Batista (3-5) to open the frame. Neil Medchill walked to move the go-ahead run to second. Emerson Landoni pinch-ran for Murton and took third on DeAngelo Mack's single to load the bases with no one out.

Kelvin Castro's sacrifice fly to left on the first pitch from new reliever Dennis Neuman brought Landoni home from third, to give Charleston a 4-3 lead going into the final frame.

Francisco Gil (1-2) fanned the first two batters, gave up a two-out single to former Citadel standout Chris McGuiness, but got Ronald Bermudez to ground out to end the game and give Gil his first SAL win.

Charleston lit the board early, when Rob Lyerly sent a two-run shot over the right field wall off Greenville starter Ryan Pressly. The homer brought J.R. Murphy home from first, giving Charleston a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

Medchill belted the first pitch of the second inning over the centerfield wall for a 3-0 RiverDogs advantage going into the third.

Zach Gentile broke up the shutout bid with his

RBI double off Charleston starter Mike Solbach to left that plated Sean Killeen from second, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Killeen opened the frame with a screamer down the left field line for his second double of the year.

Gentile moved to third on Christian Vazquez's pop out to right and came home on Jeremy Hazelbaker's RBI single to center, slicing the lead to one.

Solbach took a no-decision after giving up four hits and two earned runs, with three strikeouts, in 4.1 innings of work.

In the eighth inning, McGuiness and Bermudez walked to start versus Charleston's Ryan Acosta. Gil entered and promptly allowed Reynaldo Rodriguez to strike a RBI single to center, plating McGuiness from second to knot the score at 3-3.

Slade Heathcott's throw to the plate allowed each runner to move up a base, putting second and third with nobody out. Gil took over from there, inducing consecutive groundouts from Michael Almanzar and Killen for two outs. Gentile was intentionally walked, and Vazquez flew out to centerfield to end the threat and set the stage for Charleston's rally.

Game three of this four-game series is set for 7:05 PM Friday, with Greenville sending left-hander Drake Britton (1-1, 2.91 ERA), while Charleston counters with right-hander Jose Ramirez (5-4, 3.29 ERA).

The Drive return home to Fluor Field on August 2nd for a 9-game homestand.

The opener is "University of South Carolina Night" which will feature Gamecock football and baseball players, the 2010 College World Series National Championship trophy, Cocky, and cheerleaders.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 29, 2010


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