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SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Bats Go Cold in 4-0 Loss to BlueClaws

July 15, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The chilly wind that was present at Fluor Field on Friday night seemed to make its way into the Greenville Drive bat rack. A night after collecting clutch hits late to secure a win, the Drive (49-43, 11-11) couldn't buy many hits at all, suffering a 4-0 loss to the visiting Lakewood BlueClaws (45-45, 12-10).

Greenville didn't have any answers for Lakewood starter Jesse Biddle (5-6), who carved his way right through the Drive lineup all night. Biddle threw seven shutout frames, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out eight. Drive starter Scott Swinson matched Biddle pitch-for-pitch before coming out of the game. Swinson allowed four hits and punched out four BlueClaws hitters in his five innings of work.

The game had all the makings of a great pitcher's duel early on thanks to the two starters. Swinson allowed just three baserunners through the first four innings before running into potential trouble in the fifth. With one out, the right-hander allowed back-to-back singles from Miguel Alvarez and Cameron Rupp to put runners on the corners, but he induced a double play from Carlos Alonso to end the threat.

Biddle retired eleven consecutive Drive hitters at one point and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a one-out double to Felix Sanchez. He was stranded there, however, after Biddle caught Sean Coyle looking and got Brandon Jacobs to ground out.

Lakewood finally got on the board in the top of the sixth against Drive reliever Tyler Wilson (2-2). Edgar Duran began the inning with a single and stole second with one out. Travis Mattair followed with a single through the left side, scoring Duran. Jim Murphy also singled to advance Mattair to second. Domingo Santana then struck out looking, but Vazquez's attempt to pick off Murphy bounced into right field, and Mattair came around from second to score Lakewood's second run of the evening.

Greenville tagged Biddle for two hits in the seventh. Drew Hedman led off with a single and Henry Ramos singled two batters later, but Biddle bore down to strike out Xander Bogaerts and get David Renfroe to ground into a fielder's choice, ending the threat.

Mattair continued his assault on Drive pitching in the eighth by crushing a Wilson offering over the Green Monster for a two-run homer, plating Duran, who led off with a single.

The Drive collected two more hits in the eighth against new BlueClaws pitcher Colby Shreve. Sanchez and Coyle each singled with one out, but Jacobs struck out and Jay Johnson came on in relief to coax a groundout of Hedman.

Mattair and Duran collected three hits and two runs apiece to lead the Lakewood offense. Mattair added three RBI to cap a terrific night at the dish. Sanchez was the only Drive player to record two hits.

The Drive now welcome Southern Division cellar dwellers, the Rome Braves to Fluor Field for a three-game set beginning Saturday at 7 PM. Right-hander Miguel Celestino (7-4, 4.09 ERA) toes the rubber for Greenville in the opener, while Rome counters with right-hander Aaron Northcraft (2-6, 2.79 ERA).

For more information regarding single-game tickets, luxury accommodations, group outings, and ticket plan packages call (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

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