Drive Homestand Ends with 7-3 Loss to Braves
July 18, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Greenville, SC - A rough beginning to Monday night's game at Fluor Field proved to be too much to overcome for the Greenville Drive (50-45, 12-13), as they suffered a 7-3 loss to the Rome Braves (34-61, 9-16). The loss caps a seven-game homestand for the Drive where they finished 3-4.
Rome struck for two early runs against Drive starter Brandon Workman (2-5). Tony Mueller and Matt Lipka hit almost identical doubles just out of Drew Hedman's reach down the first-base line to begin the game. Lipka stole third during Evan Gattis' at-bat and came around to score when Gattis lifted a sacrifice fly to center.
Greenville got on the board in the bottom of the second when David Renfroe sent a Gary Moran (3-1) pitch over the Green Monster for a solo shot, his fifth homer of the season.
Lipka was the catalyst behind Rome's run in the third inning. He hit a leadoff single, stole second base, then scored all the way from second on Chris Garcia's routine groundball to second, making the score 3-1.
Greenville countered with a run in the bottom half. Sean Coyle walked with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brandon Jacobs then drove a double into the left-field corner, plating Coyle and cutting Rome's lead to one.
The Braves tacked on three more runs in the fourth to pull away for good. Matt Weaver and Tommy La Stella were issued walks to begin the frame. David Rohm then hit an infield single to load the bases. Mueller followed with another single to bring Weaver home. Workman retired Lipka and Salcedo to strand the runners at second and third, but Garcia's groundball was booted by James Kang, which scored La Stella and Rohm to make the score 6-2.
Rome scratched across another run in the seventh against Drive reliever Tyler Lockwood. Gattis led off with a single to center, and Robby Hefflinger was hit by a pitch. Weaver then laid down a sac bunt to move the runners to second and third. La Stella followed with a fly ball to center that glanced off Felix Sanchez's glove for an error, bringing home Gattis for an unearned run.
The Drive picked up their final run in the bottom of the eighth when Jacobs crushed a solo homer off the batter's eye in center field against Braves reliever Carlos Perez.
Mueller and Lipka were the standouts at the plate for Rome. Mueller collected three hits, while Lipka had two hits, two runs, and two stolen bases. La Stella added a pair of hits. Jacobs' homer was one of his two hits; he also drove in a pair. Sanchez also picked up two hits for the Drive.
The Drive now begin an 7-game road trip, starting with a stop at the Jersey Shore versus the Lakewood BlueClaws. Following an off day, the three-game series at FirstEnergy Park kicks-off Wednesday morning with first pitch set for 11:05 AM. Right-hander Keith couch (3-2, 3.10 ERA) toes the slab for Greenville, while Lakewood counters with right-hander David Buchanan (9-5, 3.76 ERA).
The Drive return home to Fluor Field on Thursday, July 28th to closeout the month with a four-game series against the Charleston RiverDogs. 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 5,121
South Atlantic League Stories from July 18, 2011
- Suns Darkened 8-6 After Game Three Finale in Lexington - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends Rally in 7th for 8-6 Win - Lexington Legends
- Crawdads Shutout Shorebirds In Finale, 5-0 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Crawdads Sweep Shorebirds with 5-0 Shutout - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Homestand Ends with 7-3 Loss to Braves - Greenville Drive
- Augusta Charges to First With Tenth Straight Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power Prep for Road Trip on Winning Note - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Maggi's Walk off Hit Claims Pitcher's Duel for Power - Charleston RiverDogs
- Former RiverDog Brandon Laird Promoted to New York Yankees - Charleston RiverDogs
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Crawdads 1B Andrew Clark Named SAL Player of Week - Hickory Crawdads
- Time Is Running out on Voting for the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame - Charleston RiverDogs
- Lakewood Drops Series Finale 7-3 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Thompon, Black Break out Bats to Beat BlueClaws - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Brownsten Placed on Disabled List - Rome Emperors
- Join the BlueClaws & NJNJ at Sunday's Nine Innings for Nature - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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