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Greenville Drive

Drive Suffer 4-2 Loss to Shorebirds After Impressive Starting Pitchers Exit

April 24, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Salisbury, MD - Those expecting to see pitchers' duel between Matt Barnes and Dylan Bundy - both of whom were selected in the first round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft - were not disappointed. The duo of right-handers lived up to the billing as both continued their impressive scoreless inning streaks to begin the 2012 season.

However, when both the Drive (7-11) and Delmarva Shorebirds (10-8) went to their bullpens, it would be the home team that came away with a 4-2 victory in the series opener.

Barnes, the 16th overall selection by the Red Sox a year ago, matched a career-high with nine strikeouts - the third time he's tallied that many punchouts since making his professional debut on April 8th - over 5.0 shutout innings, while scattering three hits and a pair of walks.

In four starts, Barnes has yet to yield a run in 21.0 innings, while striking out 34 batters.

Bundy, the 4th overall pick by the Orioles in last year's draft, has been on a strict inning count since making his professional debut. Tuesday was the first time the 19-year-old pitched into the fourth inning, but the results remained the same.

The 12 Drive batters that Bundy faced in his outing did exactly what the previous 28 batters the right-hander had faced, failing to tally a hit. Bundy was perfect in his 4.0 innings of work, striking out six Greenville batters.

Once the two highly-touted pitchers exited the game, it was the Shorebirds who struck for the game's first runs. After retiring the first batter in the bottom of the sixth, reliever Jason Garcia allowed the next three batters to reach base safely, including an RBI-single by Connor Narron. Nick Delmonico added a run-scoring groundout to give Delmarva a two-run advantage.

The Drive would waste little time in answering, however, off of the Shorebirds' third pitcher of the evening - Miguel Chalas (3-0). Not known for his fleet feet, Boss Moanaroa tripled to straight-away centerfield and scored on Bryan Johns' two-out single.

An inning later Greenville would tie the game, scoring once again with two outs in the top of the frame. Garin Cecchini got the offense started with a one-out double, and scored three batters later on Henry Ramos' single.

But it would be the Shorebirds who got the last laugh, scoring twice more in the bottom of the eighth off of Tyler Lockwood (0-2). The right-hander's outing got off to an auspicious start when Jason Esposito began the frame with a hard shot through the infield for a double. But after Lockwood bookended two outs with a walk, it appeared that he would get out of the inning unscathed.

Delmonico had other ideas when he singled up the middle, plating both runs.

The Drive and Shorebirds continue their four-game series at Arthur W. Perdue on Wednesday with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Madison Younginer (0-1, 6.55 ERA) will toe the rubber for Greenville, while Delmarva counters with left-hander Tim Berry (1-2, 3.68 ERA).

The Drive return home to Greenville on Wednesday, May 2nd, beginning a seven-game home stand with the Lexington Legends. For more information, or to purchase single-game tickets, group outings or luxury accommodations, please call (864) 240-4500 or log onto GreenvilleDrive.com.

GAME NOTES: Right-hander Matt Barnes statistics over 4 professional starts: 2-0, 0.00 ERA (0 ER/21.0 IP), 34 K, 4 BB...he has limited opposing hitters to a .125 (9-for-72) average

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