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SAL1 Greenville Drive

Reynaldo Rodriguez Carries Drive Past RiverDogs, 10-7

August 31, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Charleston, SC - For the Drive (74-59, 38-25) on Tuesday there was Reynaldo Rodriguez, and then there was everybody else. The reigning South Atlantic League Player of the Week closed out the month of August with a 4-for-4 night, blasting a grand slam, and knocking in six runs as Greenville defeated the Charleston RiverDogs (62-71, 31-33), 10-7, at Riley Park.

Making his first start in more than two months, Yeiper Castillo was greeted rudely by the RiverDogs, who scored in each frame during the right-hander's 3.0 inning outing. Charleston jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a run-scoring single from Luke Murton in the first, and RBIs by Slade Heathcott and Ramon Flores in the second, before the Drive got on the scoreboard.

All six of Rodriguez's RBIs came with two outs in their respective innings, with the first two coming in the top of the third on a double. After Charleston regained a two-run advantage, Rodriguez belted a two-out grand slam in the top of the fifth.

It appeared as if Greenville was starting to pull away, as the added a run in the top of the sixth on Sean Killeen's RBI-single. But the RiverDogs were able to answer in the home half when Rob Lyerly laced a two-run single off Pedro Perez.

An inning later Charleston tied the game off reliever Anatanaer Batista (6-5), even though the right-hander retired the first two batters of the inning. The next three batters reached, which culminated in another RBI by Heathcott.

But the Drive would make sure that another potential victory would not slip away, scoring twice in the top of the eighth, and adding an insurance run in their final at bat. Kolbrin Vitek broke the tie ballgame by leading off the eighth with a double, advancing to third on Reymond Fuentes' sac bunt, and scoring on a wild pitch by Gabriel Tatis (2-3).

After Killeen drew a walk, the swift-footed Wilfred Pichardo pinch ran for the catcher. Pichardo swiped his 25th base of the season and scored on Jeremy Hazelbaker's two-out single.

When he wasn't knocking in runs, Rodriguez was scoring them. He was hit by a pitch to start the top of the ninth, then stole second, advanced to third on Michael Almanzar's single before Fuentes lifted a sacrifice fly.

Jordan Flasher, who entered the game in the bottom of the eighth, also tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the season.

The Drive and RiverDogs continue their four-game series on Wednesday with first pitch set for 7:05 PM from Riley Park. Greenville will send southpaw Manuel Rivera (5-9, 4.20 ERA) to the mound, while Charleston counters with right-hander Shane Greene (0-1, 2.31 ERA).

Following their four game set in the lowcountry, the Drive return home to conclude the 2010 regular season at Fluor Field with a four-game series against the Hickory Crawdads from September 3-6. For more information regarding single-game tickets, group outings, or luxury accommodations, call (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

GAME NOTES: The Drive now lead the Asheville by 1/2 game in the Southern Division, following a doubleheader sweep of the Hickory Crawdads...Rodriguez finished the month of August with a .348 (31-for-89) average and 7 homers...his 29 RBI in August were a franchise record for any month...the Drive tied a franchise record with 7 stolen bases Tuesday night

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 31, 2010


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