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Greenville Drive

Wild Finish Dooms Drive in 9-8 Loss to Tourists

May 14, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Tuesday night's game looked like a potential victory for the Greenville Drive (12-26), but it ended up as another heartbreaking defeat, as the Asheville Tourists (21-16) benefited from a bizarre play to snatch a 9-8 walk-off victory.

After the Drive took an 8-6 lead in the top of the ninth on a two-run double by Tim Roberson, Asheville loaded the bases against Drive reliever Justin Haley (0-6) with one out. After a pitching change, Kyle Kraus came in and got a huge strikeout for the second out of the inning. Tom Murphy then followed with a fly ball to right-center field. Both Cody Koback and Drew Turocy both ran to try and make the catch, but the ball ticked off Koback's glove for a two-base error. Turocy then picked up the ball, but his throw to home rolled away from the plate for another error, bringing home the winning run for Asheville.

Raul Fernandez (1-1) received the win for the Tourists after striking out two batters in the top half of the ninth.

The Drive struck quickly in the top of the first against Tourists starter Matt Carasiti. Koback dropped a single into center with one out, advanced to third when Turocy lined a double to left and came in to score on David Chester's sacrifice fly to left.

The Tourists answered back with a run in the bottom of the second, as Derek Jones drove an Austin Maddox offering over the wall in right field for a solo homer.

Asheville added two more runs against Maddox in the third. Back-to-back singles began the frame, and after a sacrifice bunt, Matt Wessinger singled to right to plate Jose Rivera. Maddox then uncorked a wild pitch during the next at-bat to score Juan Ciriaco.

The Drive stormed back in the top of the fifth with a five-spot to take a 6-3 lead. Mookie Betts led off the inning with a double, which extended his hitting streak to ten games. Koback followed with a double of his own for an RBI. After Turocy reached on an error, Chester smacked an RBI double to center that put runners at second and third and chased Carasiti from the ballgame. Alving Mejias came in and struck out the first batter he faced, but Roberson then smoked a three-run homer to center field to give the Drive the lead.

The Tourists tied the game at six in the bottom of the sixth. Rosell Herrera doubled to begin the inning and later scored on a one-out single by Jones. Francisco Sosa followed by driving a two-run homer to right.

Roberson had a huge night at the plate for Greenville, going 3-5 with a homer and 5 RBIs. Jayson Hernandez added three hits of his own, while Koback and Turocy each collected a pair of hits. Jones had two hits and two RBIs for Asheville, while Herrera and Rivera picked up two hits apiece.

The two teams will meet for the series finale on Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 11:05 AM. The Drive will try to avoid being swept as LHP Brian Johnson (1-1, 2.18) takes the ball, while RHP T.J. Oakes (3-3, 6.47) will start for the Tourists.

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