Sports stats



SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Begin Homestand With 5-2 Loss To Grasshoppers

April 25, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The Drive fell to 9-9 on the season after suffering a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Greensboro Grasshoppers (11-7) as they returned to Fluor Field Monday night. Defense proved to be the biggest problem in the game for Greenville, with two errors and two past balls hurting them in a pivotal fifth inning.

Anthony Ranaudo made his fourth start of the season taking the loss to bring his record to 1-1. His ERA is still 0.46, with 23 strike outs and 8 walks in his 19 and 2/3 innings pitched this season. Ranaudo pitched into the 5th inning before being chased from the game after giving up three unearned runs. He struck out eight Grasshoppers, including six straight at one point.

The Drive committed a pair of errors which allowed three successive batters to score for Greensboro. The bottom of the Grasshoppers line up scored the runs with only two hits and two passed balls on catcher Christian Vazquez, which advanced the runners and accounted for the final run of the inning.

Vazquez, along with Brandon Jacobs paced the offense - which tallied four more hits than the Sand Gnats - by recording three a piece. Vazquez drove in the Drive's first run in the bottom of the fifth, already trailing by three runs, following a double off the bat of Felix Sanchez.

Greenville scored its second run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with an attempt at a two-out rally from the bottom of the order. Lucas LeBlanc walked, as did Sean Coyle, before an RBI-single by David Renfroe, who was 2-for-4 on the night. His single up the middle bounced off of the second base bag and over the shortstops head to pull the Drive within two runs.

However, Brian McConkey iced Greenville with a towering solo homer to right-centerfield off Garrett Rau in the top of the ninth, to put the Grasshoppers back up by three runs.

The Drive and Grasshoppers continue their five-game series tomorrow evening at Fluor Field, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. A pair of right-handers will head to the mound for their respective teams, as Brandon Workman (0-2, 4.09 ERA) gets the nod for Greenville while Greensboro counters with Robert Morey (1-2, 7.88 ERA).

In addition to tomorrow night's tilt being "BI-LO Tasty Tuesday" where kids 12 and under eat free, it will also mark the official grand opening of the all-new SUBWAY restaurant at Fluor Field. Prior to Tuesday's game, there will be a ceremonial "first cut" at home plate to signify the new concession offering. For more information regarding single-game tickets, luxury accommodations, group outings, and ticket plan packages call (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...

South Atlantic League Stories from April 25, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central