SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive, Suns Slug It out for Second Straight Night

Published on June 2, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Hagerstown, MD - For the second straight night at Municipal Stadium, the Drive (26-28) and Hagerstown (33-21) showcased a lot of offense, and not much pitching or defense. Only on Thursday both team's weren't done after nine innings, but the hometown Suns made sure it wouldn't go past the tenth inning by capturing a 9-8 walk-off victory.

The two heavyweight offenses traded blows early and often, combining for 30 hits, five less than the night before. Trailing by three runs after seven innings, Greenville cut their deficit to a run in the top of the eighth as Christian Vazquez belted a two-run homer.

After Hagerstown added a run in the home half of the inning, the Drive tied the game in what appeared to be their final at bat, despite not having any runners on base and two outs. Following David Renfroe being hit by a pitch, both Heiker Meneses and Felix Sanchez recorded back-to-back infield singles. A throwing error on Sanchez's batted ball by Jason Martinson tied the game and sent it into extra frames.

In the top of the 10th, the Drive scored another run with two outs as Henry Ramos singled home Miles Head.

But jubilation quickly turned sour as reliever Tyler Lockwood (3-3) surrendered a leadoff double to Adrian Sanchez. The very next batter, the 2010 first overall draft pick Bryce Harper, brought the game to an end as he jumped on the first pitch from the right-handed Lockwood for a towering two-run round tripper to straight away centerfield.

Making his first start of the season, taking over the rotation spot with the promotion of Anthony Ranaudo, Keith Couch gave up six runs on 10 hits and a walk over 5.0 innings. The right-hander did, however, strikeout five batters.

Greenville did hold a two-run advantage after three-and-a-half innings, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. The Drive collected three hits in the inning, but also took advantage of a pair of Hagerstown errors to record their first lead of the game.

The Drive and Suns continue their four-game series on Friday with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Brandon Workman (1-3, 3.63 ERA) will look to continue his recent dominance for Greenville, while Hagerstown starter has yet to be determined.

Following their brief road trip, the Drive return home to Fluor Field on Sunday, June 5th for a three-game set with the Lexington Legends, with first pitch set for 4:05 PM. For more information regarding single-game tickets, luxury accommodations, group outings, and ticket plan packages call (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

GAME NOTES: Felix Sanchez extended his hit streak to 9-games, during which he is batting .459 (17-for-37) with 4 RBI and 7 runs scored...Sean Coyle's only hit of the game was a double, his 10th of the year, and 20 of his 32 hits on the year have gone for extra bases - 10 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 2, 2011


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