Sports stats



SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Hang On for 5-4 Win Over Sand Gnats

June 18, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The Drive (37-32) continued to roll before heading into the South Atlantic League's mid-season All-Star break, coming up with a 5-4 victory Saturday night at Fluor Field over the Savannah Sand Gnats (39-29). The win extended Greenville's season long win streak to six games.

The Sand Gnats would strike first putting a run on the board in the second inning. Rafael Fernandez led-off the inning with a double to right and was able to take third on error by right fielder Lucas LeBlanc. He would score two batters later on a groundout to short to put the Sand Gants ahead 1-0.

The Drive would answer in a big way in the fourth. Second basemen Sean Coyle led-off the inning with a solo homerun, his sixth of the season, to tie the game at one. Miles Head followed with a double before advancing to third on a wild pitch. After a Brandon Jacobs walk put runners on the corners, Christian Vazquez doubled to plate Head and give the Drive a 2-1 lead. Henry Ramos would then ground out to second to bring in Jacobs and up the Drive's lead to 3-1.

Xander Bogaerts would provide the biggest blow of the inning by sending his first homerun with the Drive, a two-run shot to left-center, to give Greenville a 5-1 lead.

Savannah responded by adding a run of their own in the top half of the fifth. Albert Cordero walked to begin the inning and then was able to advance to second on a balk. After a flyout to center, Alonzo Harris doubled to plate Cordero and cut the Drive's to 5-2. The run scored by Cordero was the first earned run allowed by a Drive starting pitcher at home in 20 and 2/3 innings.

The Sand Gnats would edge even closer in the seventh inning. Joe Bonfe reached and then moved to second on an error by the shortstop. After a strikeout, Darrell Ceciliani singled to short to put runners on first and second with one out.

Wilfredo Tovar would then hit a grounder to third on which Drive third-basemen Heiker Meneses attempted to turn a double play. Ceciliani would be forced out at second but Tovar would reach on fielder's choice and take second on a bad throw by the shortstop, which also allowed Bonfe to score and make the score 5-3. Tovar would score on the batter as Cory Vaughn singled to make the score 5-4.

Drive pitching would keep the Snad Gnats hitters at bay in the final two innings to seal the 5-4 victory. Couch (2-1) earned the win by going 5.0 innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out six and walking one. Ryan Fraser (4-5) took the loss for Savannah by giving up five runs on five hits in five innings pitched. Garrett Rau picked up his second save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

The Drive will look for their first sweep of 2011 in the final game of the first half of the regular season, with Sunday's first pitch set for 4:05 PM. Right-hander Brandon Workman (2-4, 4.10 ERA) will toe the rubber for Greenville, while Savannah counters with right-hander Gonzalez Germen (5-2, 3.34 ERA).

Following tomorrow's game in celebration of Father's Day, dad's and their children will be able to play catch in the Fluor Field outfield. 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



South Atlantic League Stories from June 18, 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