Late Comeback Propels Drive to 9-2 Win
July 23, 2014 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Lakewood, NJ - Thanks to a late offensive outburst of eight runs in the final two innings, the Greenville Drive (8-25, 42-60) defeated the Lakewood BlueClaws (11-21, 38-63) 9-2 in Wednesday's series opener.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the eighth, the Drive took the lead for good with a three-run inning. Hector Lorenzana struck out to begin the frame, but he took first when David Child's (0-1) pitch squirted away. Cole Sturgeon followed by doubling him to third, and Wendell Rijo's two-run triple to left made the score 3-2. A Lakewood error later in the frame added another run.
For good measure, the Drive scored five more times in the ninth against Matt Hockenberry. After Franklin Guzman's double, Jimmy Rider's walk, a double steal and Lorenzana's walk, back-to-back doubles by Sturgeon and Rijo each plated two runs. Manuel Margot added an RBI single with two outs to push the score to the eventual final.
Raynel Velette (5-2) earned the victory following three scoreless innings in relief of Daniel McGrath, who received a no-decision despite allowing just three hits and two runs in six innings while punching out six.
The Drive jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Kevin Mager smacked an opposite field homer to right, his fifth long ball of the season.
Lakewood took the lead in the sixth when McGrath issued a leadoff walk to Carlos Tocci, which was followed by an RBI triple by Andrew Pullin and an RBI double by Zach Green.
Rijo went 2-5 with four RBI to lead the Drive offense, while Guzman and Sturgeon collected two hits as well. Pullin had a pair of hits for Lakewood.
The series continues on Thursday night in Lakewood, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. The Drive will send RH Myles Smith (3-6, 6.31) to the mound, while the BlueClaws will counter with RH Jon Prosinski (3-3, 4.66).
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