SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Ride Another Walk-Off to Third Straight Victory

Published on August 24, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Fans at Fluor Field were treated to free baseball on Friday night thanks to extra innings. For the second time in three nights, Blake Swihart played the role of hero. His hard grounder up the middle in the bottom of the tenth turned into a game-winning fielder's choice, and the Greenville Drive (60-70, 26-34) picked up their third consecutive win in a 3-2 decision over the Asheville Tourists (82-49, 35-26).

The Drive loaded the bases with nobody out in the tenth. Nick Natoli began the frame by dropping a single into left against Tourists reliever Russell Brewer (1-3). Cody Koback was then hit by a pitch, and Garin Cecchini laid down a fantastic bunt up the first-base line for a base hit. Brewer got a huge strikeout of Keury De la Cruz for the first out before being relieved for Jefri Hernandez. Swihart then delivered a ground ball to Tourists second baseman Taylor Featherston, who couldn't quite make an accurate flip on, to end the game.

Swihart's heroics made a winner out of Drive reliever Tyler Lockwood, who improves to 5-3. Lockwood combined with Matty Ott to throw five scoreless innings in relief of Henry Owens, who allowed a pair of runs in five innings of work.

Asheville struck for both of their runs against Owens in the second. Jordan Ribera led off with a single just out of Jose Garcia's reach, and Sam Mende followed with a two-run shot over the wall in left to stake the Tourists to a 2-0 lead.

The Drive picked up two runs of their own to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Cecchini singled to left-center to start things off and quickly stole his 45th base of the year. He advanced to third on De la Cruz's groundout to the pitcher and scored on Swihart's grounder to second. Henry Ramos followed up with a double down the right field line, and after a walk to Boss Moanaroa, Garcia lifted a double off the wall in left to even things up.

Asheville got a valiant effort from starting pitcher Alex Gillingham in the loss. He threw seven and two-thirds, allowing only four hits and two runs while striking out three.

Cecchini was the only Drive hitter to collect two hits on the evening, while Swihart drove in two runs. Ribera and Trevor Story had two hits apiece for Asheville, while Mende drove in both runs with his second-inning homer.

The same two teams meet again on Saturday night at Fluor Field. Game time is 7:05. The starting pitcher for the Drive is RHP Noe Ramirez (2-6, 4.01), while the Tourists will send RHP Chris Jensen (11-3, 4.53) to the mound.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 24, 2012


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