SAL1 Greenville Drive

Pena, Ogando Solid on the Mound as Drive Win 4-3 Over Tourists

Published on August 23, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The offensive struggles of the Greenville Drive (59-70, 25-34) have been a common theme recently at Fluor Field. The last two nights have given the Drive a little reason for optimism, however. On Thursday night, they scored early and held on late to pick up a 4-3 victory over the Asheville Tourists (82-48, 35-25).

The Drive took the lead in the bottom of the first and never lost it. Keury De la Cruz began the frame with a double to right against Asheville starter Tyler Anderson (11-3). Henry Ramos drew a one-out walk and the two pulled off a double steal. Boss Moanaroa's grounder then went through the legs of Tourists first baseman Jordan Ribera to bring De la Cruz in.

Greenville added two more runs in the third. They loaded the bases with nobody out after Jordan Weems walked, Nick Natoli dropped down a beautiful base-hit bunt and Cody Koback was hit by a pitch. Garin Cecchini then reached on a fielder's choice to stretch the lead to 2-0. De la Cruz followed that up with a groundout to score Natoli for the third run of the evening.

Asheville got on the board in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs. Tyler Massey doubled to right to lead off the inning, and Taylor Featherston followed with a double off the Green Monster in left for the first run. After Featherston advanced to third on a balk, he came in to score on an error by Jose Garcia, which cut the Drive lead to 3-2.

The Drive countered quickly with a single run in the bottom half. Ramos doubled to deep center, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and was plated on Moanaroa's double to the right field wall.

The Tourists capped the scoring on the evening in the sixth thanks to Featherston, as he drove a pitch from Drive starter Mickey Pena (7-7) over the wall in left for a homer.

Pena picked up the win with a solid start. He went six innings while giving up seven hits and two earned runs while striking out three. Nefi Ogando followed by firing three shutout frames and recording three strikeouts of his own to earn his second save of the season. Ogando has now thrown 16 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to July 30th.

De la Cruz was the lone Drive hitter to collect two hits on the evening. Featherston led the way at the plate for the Tourists, going 2-4 with a pair of RBIs. Brian Humphries was the other Asheville hitter to pick up two hits.

These two teams will meet again on Friday night at Fluor Field in the second game of a four-game set. First pitch will be at 7:05. Drive LHP Henry Owens (11-5, 5.20) will take the mound, while Asheville's scheduled starter is RHP Alex Gillingham (6-7, 3.90).

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 23, 2012


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