SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Drop Series Opener to GreenJackets, 4-1

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


Greenville, SC - The Greenville Drive (57-68, 23-32) returned home to Fluor Field on Monday night hoping a change of scenery might do them some good, but they are still looking to get into a groove. The offense once again couldn't get anything going in a 4-1 loss to the division rival Augusta GreenJackets (62-63, 30-26).

Greenville scored their only run of the night in the bottom half of the third. Drew Turocy and Nick Natoli hit back-to-back singles to begin the frame, and they each advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice by Bryan Johns. Cody Koback followed with a groundout to second base, bringing home Turocy for the 1-0 lead.

That was all that could be mustered against GreenJackets starter Clayton Blackburn (8-3), who baffled Drive hitters for seven innings. He allowed the lone run on six hits and one walk while piling up ten strikeouts. After a GreenJackets reliever left with an injury with one out in the eighth, Steven Neff came on and fired an inning and two -thirds, collecting a pair of strikeouts and recording his first save of the season.

Augusta took a lead they would not relinquish in the top half of the fourth. Shawn Payne doubled down the right field line with one out, and Brett Krill followed by smacking a Noe Ramirez (2-6) offering over the Green Monster in left to give the GreenJackets a 2-1 lead.

Augusta padded their lead in the sixth inning with two more runs. Jesus Galindo was hit by a pitch leading off, and he came in to score on a one-out double to deep left by Payne. After Payne swiped third base standing up, Devin Harris singled to center to make it a 4-1 game.

Ramirez allowed four runs in six innings of work. He also gave up six hits and one walk while punching out seven Augusta hitters. Matty Ott and Tyler Lockwood combined for three shutout innings to finish out the game.

Payne picked up two hits for the GreenJackets. He also scored two runs. Harris added a pair of hits, and Krill drove in two. Turocy and Natoli paced the Drive offense with two hits apiece.

These two teams will play a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday at Fluor Field. The first game is a makeup from a rainout in Augusta on July 12th, and first pitch for that game is at 1:05 PM. RHP Kyle Kraus (0-0, 1.23) will make his first start with the Drive, while the GreenJackets counter with RHP Kyle Crick (6-6, 2.34). Fans will be asked to clear out of the stadium before the second game, which is scheduled to start at 7:05 PM. RHP Jason Garcia (6-5, 6.08) gets the call for Greenville, while Augusta's starter in that game is TBA.

For the special 1 PM game, ALL tickets are just $3.50 as part of the Drive's "Let's Hit 350" campaign, and the first 350 people through the gates will receive a complimentary picnic buffet in the Paladin Plateau. The night cap will be a celebration of the Spartanburg community. For more information and to purchase tickets, log onto GreenvilleDrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 20, 2012


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