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Greenville Drive

Drive Offense Blasts Sand Gnats, 7-3, in Series Finale

August 21, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Even with one of the South Atlantic League's top hurlers on the mound for the visiting Savannah Sand Gnats (74-51, 35-21), the Drive offense couldn't be fazed Sunday at Fluor Field. Despite Brandon Jacobs, Sean Coyle and Felix Sanchez all getting a day off, Greenville (68-58, 29-26) jumped all over Angel Cuan en route to a 7-3 victory in the series finale.

All nine of the Drive's batters recorded a hit during the game, as Cuan (10-3) was chased away after allowing seven runs on 14 hits - both season-highs for the right-hander - over 5.0 innings. Although he surrendered a pair of home runs, including a solo shot to Wilfredo Tovar in the top of the first, Brandon Workman (4-7) strung together a strong 6.0 inning outing.

With the exception of the two homers, Joe Bonfe added a two-run shot in the top of the fourth, Workman allowed just two other Savannah batters to reach base, by way of a single and a walk, while striking out seven.

After quickly falling behind, the Drive answered in their first trip to the plate. Three straight singles to begin the frame, culminating with a two-run single by Christian Vazquez, who was celebrating his 21st birthday. Two innings later Greenville extended their lead as Xander Bogaerts led off with a double and scored as Henry Ramos followed with an RBI-single.

The Sand Gnats tied the game in the top of the fourth on Bonfe's two-run blast, but that was short-lived when Bogaerts' lifted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to regain the lead.

Behind Michael Almanzar's first home run in a Drive uniform in 2011 to leadoff the bottom of the fifth, Greenville crippled the Savannah. The Drive added two more runs in the frame on Matty Johnson's RBI-groundout, and Wilfred Pichardo's two-out, run-scoring single.

Pichardo and Ramos each collected three hits in the victory, while Johnson, David Renfroe, and James Kang each chipped in with a pair of hits.

Relievers Dennis Neuman and Tyler Lockwood combined to hold the Sand Gnats scoreless over the game's final three innings, preserving the victory.

The Drive now travel across the Palmetto State to Charleston, for a four-game series with their rival RiverDogs. The series begins Monday at 7:05 PM from "The Joe," with right-hander Keith Couch (6-4, 3.15 ERA) toeing the rubber for Greenville. Charleston will counter with left-hander Vidal Nuno (1-1, 2.57 ERA).

The Drive return home to Fluor Field on Friday, August 26th with a crucial five-game series with the Augusta GreenJackets, that could very well determine who makes the playoffs. 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 3,447...Christian Vazquez extended his hit streak to 10 games, in which he is hitting .400 (14-for-35) with a homer, 13 RBI and 4 runs scored...Michael Almanzar's home run was his first since May 31st as a member of the Salem Red Sox, a span of 59 games

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 21, 2011


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