SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive's Rally Not Enough, Lose 3-2 to GreenJackets

Published on April 20, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Despite a valiant effort by starting pitcher Mickey Pena, and a late attempt at a rally, the Drive (6-10) fell to the Augusta GreenJackets for the second straight night. Augusta scored the game's first three runs, and held on for a 3-2 win in front of 5,061 fans at Fluor Field.

The Drive's Pena (1-2) and the GreenJackets Bryce Bandilla dueled on the mound for their respective clubs through the first three innings, holding their opponents scoreless over that span. After Fluor Field's manual scoreboard saw a string of zeroes, Augusta plated the game's first run in the top of the fourth.

Brett Krill laced a one-out triple and scored when Ben Thomas lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Other than the lone run, Pena pitched effectively which did not warrant the tough luck loss. The southpaw scattered five hits and a walk over 5.0 innings, while striking out four.

The GreenJackets added a pair of insurance runs, which proved to be the eventual game-winners, in the top of the seventh. Each of the first four batters reached base, including an RBI-single by Joe Staley. Elliott Blair grounded into a double play later in the inning, accounting for Augusta's final run.

Having just two hits through their first six trips to bat, the Drive needed only one hit to plate two runs in the bottom of the seventh, taking advantage of two GreenJackets ' defensive miscues. Henry Ramos and Keury De la Cruz each reached by errors to start the inning, setting up Lucas LeBlanc's RBI-double. Jordan Weems' groundout pulled the Drive within a run, but LeBlanc - the tying run - was stranded 90 feet from home.

With two innings left the play, the Drive weren't able to get over the hump, dropping their second straight game to Augusta by just a single run. Despite walking four batters over 2.0 innings, DeMondre Arnold (2-0) earned the win for the GreenJackets, while Cody Hall tossed a scoreless ninth to pick-up his fourth save of the season.

The Drive will look to avenge back-to-back tight losses to the GreenJackets on Saturday, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Luis Diaz (0-2, 5.84 ERA) will toe the rubber for Greenville, while Augusta counters with right-hander Kyle Crick (0-1, 3.68 ERA).

Throughout tomorrow's game, the Drive will celebrate the 100th anniversary of their major league parent club's ballpark, Fenway Park - the very same stadium that Fluor Field is modeled after. To purchase tickets, please call (864) 240-4528 or log onto GreenvilleDrive.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 20, 2012


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