SAL1 Greenville Drive

Legends' Offense Takes Down Drive, 13-7

Published on July 22, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The Greenville Drive (46-53, 12-17) will be extremely happy that the Lexington Legends (53-46, 14-16) are off the schedule the rest of the season. The Legends hit the ball all over the ballpark at Fluor Field on Sunday afternoon, en route to a 13-7 win and a 3-1 series victory.

Lexington began the onslaught early against Drive starter Henry Owens (9-4), scoring four runs in the top of the first. Owens issued a leadoff walk to Delino DeShields Jr, which was quickly followed by an RBI triple from Ruben Sosa. He almost worked out of the jam after a pair of strikeouts, but another walk, this time to Brandon Meredith, led to a mammoth three run homer by Mike Kvasnicka off the condos in left field.

Owens gave up two more runs in the second. Once again, walks came back to bite him, as he issued a pair of free passes to begin the frame. DeShields then laid down a base-hit bunt, but Owens' throw to first was dropped by Jose Garcia for an error, allowing Justin Gominsky to score. Sosa followed with a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Legends added two more runs in the fourth inning against Drive reliever Matty Ott. Gominsky drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a double to left by Ryan McCurdy. DeShields followed with a single to left, but McCurdy was gunned at the plate by Keury De la Cruz. DeShields moved to second on the throw home, scooted up 90 more feet on a wild pitch, and was plated on Sosa's ground ball to second.

Greenville began a major comeback, scoring seven runs in the next two innings. Cody Koback finally got the Drive on the board in the fourth by smacking a Luis Cruz offering over the left field wall for a three run shot. He drove home Garin Cecchini, who drew a leadoff walk, and Henry Ramos, who reached on a fielder's choice. The Drive added four more runs in the fifth. Garcia led off with an infield single and advanced to third on Cecchini's single two batters later. David Renfroe then lined an RBI double into the left field corner, placing runners at second and third. Ramos then reached on an E-6 that brought Cecchini home. Boss Moanaroa followed with a double to the right-center wall, scoring a pair and cutting Lexington's lead to one.

Lexington added a run in the seventh after four consecutive hits to begin the frame off Dylan Chavez. Gominsky's single was the fourth hit, and it scored Meredith, who led off with a double. Tyler Lockwood came in for Chavez and put out the fire, getting a pair of popouts and a groundout to leave the bases loaded.

Lockwood's eighth inning wouldn't go as well, as the Legends put the game away with four runs. Zach Johnson led off with a single, Matt Duffy was hit by a pitch, and Meredith singled to load the bases. The switch-hitting Kvasnicka continued his big weekend by launching a grand slam to left-center for his second homer of the afternoon, including one from each side of the plate.

Euris Quezada (1-2) picked up the win in relief for the Legends. He entered in the fifth after Moanaroa's double and stranded three Drive runners. He allowed two hits in two and a third innings and recorded four strikeouts. Dayan Diaz threw the final two innings for Lexington and despite walking three, he struck out the side in both frames.

Kvasnicka's monster day concluded with three hits, including two homers, and seven RBIs. Sosa drove in three runs of his own despite just one hit. DeShields collected three hits and scored twice, and Johnson, Meredith, and Jose Fernandez each added a pair of hits. Koback led the way for the Drive, with two hits, including the three-run homer. Garcia also picked up two hits, and Cecchini and Ramos each scored twice.

The Drive now head out on the road for seven games away from Fluor Field, beginning with a four-game set at McCormick Field versus the Asheville Tourists. Right-hander Mike McCarthy (1-4, 5.20 ERA) will toe the slab for Greenville in the opener, while Asheville counters with right-hander Alex Gillingham (4-5, 4.36 ERA).

The Drive return home to Fluor Field on Monday, July 30th for an eight-game home stand against the Charleston RiverDogs and Hickory Crawdads. For more information regarding tickets, call (864) 240-4500 or log onto GreenvilleDrive.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 22, 2012


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