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SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Swat 'Jackets 5-3 in Finale at Fluor Field

August 30, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - While the South Atlantic League's Southern Division playoff picture seems to get cloudier with each passing day, one thing is clear - should the Wild Card be needed the Drive (74-61, 36-29) will be punching their ticket to postseason for the third straight year, following a 5-3 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets (67-66, 36-27) on Tuesday.

With 4,781 fans at Fluor Field for the final home game of the 2011 regular season, the Drive rebounded after nearly being on the wrong end of a perfect game the night before. After scoring their first run in 19-2/3 innings in the bottom of the second to tie the game 1-1, Sean Coyle gave Greenville a one-run lead in the third with a sacrifice fly.

The lead was short lived, however, as Raynor Campbell belted a 2-0 offering from Tyler Wilson (4-3) over the Green Monster in the top of the fifth to knot the game once again. But the right-hander's offense made sure that he would not go home with a no-decision, scoring three runs - two of which were unearned - in the bottom of the inning.

Carson Blair drew a leadoff and advanced to second when Matty Johnson laid down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. Due to Johnson's speed, Augusta's Campbell threw errantly to first, putting runners on first and second with nobody out.

Coyle followed with a single to load the bases, setting up Brandon Jacobs' clutch two-run single. Greenville added their fifth and final run when Coyle scampered home when Taylor Rogers (11-10) uncorked a wild pitch.

Tyler Lockwood and Charle Rosario combined to limit the GreenJackets to one run over the final four innings, but not without some drama. Lockwood tossed a scoreless seventh, but got out of a bases loaded jam unscathed as Michael Almanzar turned a great double play at third base. The GreenJackets pulled within two runs in the top of the eighth when Ryan Lollis tripled, and scored on Devin Harris' sacrifice fly to the wall in centerfield.

Following an off day on Wednesday, the Drive travel to Hickory, NC for a five-game series with the Crawdads to closeout out the regular season at LP Frans Stadium. Right-hander Brandon Workman (5-7, 3.74 ERA) will toe the rubber for Greenville, while Hickory counters with right-hander Cody Buckel.

With the Drive, as well as the Augusta GreenJackets, Asheville Tourists, and Rome Braves all in contention for the second playoff spot, fans will now play the waiting game to see if playoff baseball will be coming to Fluor Field. Tickets for the potential playoff games at Fluor Field - September 7, 15-17 - are currently on sale and can be purchased by visiting the Fluor Field Box Office, calling charge-by-phone at (864) 240-4528, or by logging onto www.GreenvilleDrive.com .

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