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SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Crush Suns 11-4 in Road Trip Finale

July 26, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Hagerstown, MD - Closing out their seven-game road trip with a matinee contest, the Drive (54-48, 16-16) offense was hotter than the sweltering heat wave that has plagued the Northeast for most of the month of July. Led by 15 total hits, including three-hit performances by Carson Blair, Xander Bogaerts and David Renfroe, Greenville cruised to an 11-4 victory over the Hagerstown Suns (56-45, 16-15).

Greenville put up crooked numbers in each of the first three innings, spotting their hurlers a seven-run advantage which proved to be more than enough. With two outs in the top of the first, Bogaerts opened up the game's scoring with a two-run double into the left-field corner, and Renfroe added an RBI-single.

The woes continued for Hagerstown's Matt Swynenberg (3-1), who suffered his first loss of the season, in the top of the second as he balked in a run and allowed an RBI-single off the bat of Sean Coyle. An inning later, the Drive tacked on three more runs, one on an error before Blair crushed a towering two-run homer to straightaway centerfield.

With the offense accumulating 15 hits over the course of the game, it was easy for the Drive's pitchers to head to the mound calm and collected. Making his first start in two weeks, Manuel Rivera struckout three over 3.0 innings, with his only hiccup coming in the bottom of the first when he surrendered a solo homer to Chris Curran.

Scott Swinson (3-2), along with Justin Erasmus and Michael Gleason combined on the final six innings, to preserve the victory. Although he was tagged for two runs on four hits - including a solo homer by Cole Leonida - and two walks over 4.0 innings, Swinson picked up his third win of the season.

While the Greenville bats cooled off in the middle innings, where they failed to garner a hit in the fourth through sixth innings, they came back alive in the top of the seventh when Bogaerts pounded his seventh homer of the season.

Two innings later the Drive added two more runs in their final at bat as Drew Dominguez's groundout scored Bogaerts. It was only fitting then that Blair, who doubled his season home run and RBI totals in the game, capped Greenville's day with a two-out, RBI-single.

Following a scheduled off day on Wednesday, the Drive begin a four-game homestand on Thursday with the Charleston RiverDogs, affiliate of the New York Yankees. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM as right-hander Miguel Celestino takes the mound for Greenville, while Charleston counters with right-hander Scottie Allen.

The homestand kicks off with the always popular Dollar Drink Night at Fluor Field, where fans of all ages can purchase 12 ounce Pepsi products at any of the concession stands for just $1, while those fans at least 21 years of age can head over to The 500 Club for draft specials. 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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South Atlantic League Stories from July 26, 2011


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