SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Outslugged by BlueClaws in 8-7 Loss

Published on July 12, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - A night after the Major League Home Run Derby in Arizona, Fluor Field was home to another impressive exhibition of the long ball. Six homers were the highlight Tuesday night, as the Lakewood BlueClaws (44-43, 11-8) rode four of those round trippers to an 8-7 victory over the Greenville Drive (47-42,9-10).

It was the Drive offense that struck early in this affair. Felix Sanchez led off the bottom of the first with a single, advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt by BlueClaws starter Lisalberto Bonilla (1-2), and stole third base. Sean Coyle drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Coyle wasn't content with only one RBI on the evening. After Wilfred Pichardo reached on an error with one out in the third, Sanchez singled him to second and Coyle drove them both in, as well as himself, with a three-run homer off the batter's eye in center field to make the score 4-0.

Greenville starter Manuel Rivera (5-4) struggled to keep the ball in the park, however. He allowed all four Lakewood homers, including two to BlueClaws cleanup hitter Jim Murphy. Murphy got the Lakewood offense going in the top of the fourth when he crushed a ball over the 420-foot sign in center field for a two-run homer. Anthony Hewitt followed with a shot over the left-center wall, cutting the Drive lead to 4-3.

After Rivera issued a leadoff walk to Carlos Perdomo in the fifth, Edgar Duran got in on the action by clearing the Green Monster for a two-run homer to push the BlueClaws ahead. Later in the inning, Murphy crushed a Rivera pitch over the condos in left field, extending the lead to 6-4 and ending Rivera's outing.

Lakewood added a run in the top of the sixth off Drive reliever Juan Rodriguez. Cameron Rupp ripped a two-out double to right-center and came around to score when Coyle booted Perdomo's groundball to second. Greenville quickly countered in the bottom of the frame when Christian Vazquez launched a ball the opposite way and into the BlueClaw bullpen, making the score 7-5.

Each team also scored a single run in the eighth. Travis Mattair reached on a fielder's choice for Lakewood and was driven in when Rupp found right field again for a double off Greenville's Garrett Rau. The Drive bounced right back in the bottom half when Henry Ramos singled off the first-base bag with one out. Two batters later, David Renfroe hit a blooper into right-center that somehow dropped in and scored Ramos all the way from first.

The Drive made things interesting in the ninth inning but couldn't quite complete the rally. Sanchez was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a wild pitch by BlueClaw reliever Ryan Duke, and was moved to third on a fly ball to center. Drew Hedman drew a two-out walk, and Vazquez grounded a single through the left side to cut the lead to one. Duke got out of the jam and earned his first save when he got Ramos to pop out to end the game.

Murphy led the way for Lakewood with his two homers and three RBI. Rupp added two hits as well, and Duran drove in two. For Greenville, Coyle collected four RBI despite just one hit. Sanchez picked up three hits and scored three runs, while Vazquez had two hits and two RBI and Ramos added a pair of hits.

In a rematch of the 2009 and 2010 South Atlantic League Championship Series, the Drive and BlueClaws continue their four-game set at Fluor Field on Wednesday with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Greenville will send right-hander Brandon Workman (2-4, 3.82 ERA) to the mound, while Lakewood counters with southpaw Ervis Manzanillo (7-4, 4.44 ERA).

Tomorrow is NASCAR Night at Fluor Field in which local racers including 2011 Hall of Fame inductees David Pearson and Bud Moore, as well as 2012 Hall of Fame nominee Cotton Owens will be recognized at the ballpark. Pearson will throw out the game's ceremonial first, as Moore serves as the honorary captain and Owens announces "play ball!". 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: Attendance was 4,464...Manuel Rivera had gone 164 batters without allowing a home run before surrendering Murphy's 2-run blast in the top of the 4th...the 4 round trippers against Rivera were a career-high...30 of Sean Coyle's 51 hits this season have gone for extra bases - 17 doubles, 6 triples, 7 home runs

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 12, 2011


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