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SAL Greenville Drive

Asheville Clips Drive, 7-5, to End Four-Game Winning-Streak

May 18, 2021 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


Asheville, NC - The Tourists scored five runs between the second and fourth innings to beat the Drive, 7-5, and snap their four-game winning-streak Tuesday night at McCormick Field.

Greenville's starter, Brian Van Belle, took the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits and two walks. He fanned six.

Chandler Casey got the start for Asheville, lasting 3.2 innings. He surrendered four runs on seven hits and one walk. Reliever Felipe Tejeda earned the win after hurling 1.1 innings of shutout ball.

Four Drive players registered two-hit performances: Christian Koss, Brandon Howlett, Tyler Dearden and Luke Bandy. Cam Cannon and Esplin each hit solo home runs while Bandy blasted a two-run shot. The team left 10 men on base and went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Asheville took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Scott Schreiber started the frame with a led off walk. He then stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher and then came around to score on another throwing error, this time by the center fielder.

The Tourists lead, however, didn't last. In the top half of the third, Cannon smacked a leadoff home run to left field, tying the game at 1-1. Two batters later, Esplin followed suit and connected on a solo clout of his own. Greenville led, 2-1.

Asheville answered right back in the bottom half of the inning. Alex Holderbach singled to start the inning and advanced to third on an Alex McKenna single. Enmanuel Valdez followed that with an RBI double. With a runner on third and Korey Lee at the plate, McKenna scored on a wild pitch. After a Schreiber single put runners on the corners, another wild pitch brought home another run. The Tourists held a 4-2 lead after three innings.

Greenville connected on its third home run of the game in the fourth inning. Dearden singled with one out. Bandy then sent a 3-1 pitch to center field for a two-run home run to tie the game at 4-4.

AJ Lee belted a homer to right in the bottom half of the frame to retake the lead for Asheville by a score of 5-4.

An inning later, Asheville added to its lead, 7-4, on two sac flies, one by Luis Santana and the other via McKenna.

The Drive cut into the Tourists' lead again in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Tyreque Reed drew a walk was driven in a Brandon Howlett RBI double to put the score at 7-5 in favor of Asheville. But the Tourists held the Drive's offense in check the rest of the way.

Game two is set for 6:35 pm at McCormick Park in Asheville, NC. Left-hander Chris Murphy is scheduled to take the hill for the Drive while Asheville will send right-hander Matt Ruppenthal.

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