SAL Greenville Drive

Bastardo Strikes out 11 in 2-1 Loss to 'Hoppers

Published on April 22, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville Drive (4-8) starter Angel Bastardo tossed six strong innings collecting 11 strikeouts and only allowing two runs on two hits to the Greensboro Grasshoppers (10-3). But, his performance from the bump wouldn't be backed up as Grasshopper's pitching kept Drive hitting at bay.

The 'Hoppers notched their first run of the ball game in the second inning, when a Jackson Glenn one-out ground-out scored Luke Brown, who led off the inning with a triple.

Bastardo recovered, mowing down six of the next seven batters he faced on strikes. He wouldn't relinquish another hit until the fifth when a double by the Grasshoppers' Glenn scored Hudson Head from first after he led off the inning with a walk.

Bastardo again held strong, collecting three outs on a ground out and two fly outs. He would trot out to the mound again in the sixth, sending all three batters he faced in the inning down on strikes.

But ultimately, Drive hitting couldn't back up Bastardo's strong outing, going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine batters on base, and failing to take advantage of extra base hits.

Blaze Jordan smacked a two-out triple in the first inning that was followed up with a ground out. Nathan Hickey knocked a two-out double in the fourth that was met with a strikeout in the ensuing at-bat. Tyler Miller, making his Drive debut tonight, led off the sixth with a double to right field but the next three batters went down, failing to score Miller.

Drive relievers Robert Kwiatkowski and Aaron Perry came on the seventh and eighth innings respectively, shutting the door on the 'Hoppers to keep the game within reach.

Kwiatkowski posted two strikeouts and Perry struck out one, neither allowing a hit.

The Drive's best chance would come in the top of the eighth as they loaded the bases with two outs. But Hickey would go down on strikeouts for the third out keeping the game at 2-0.

The Drive scratched across their lone run in the ninth as Bryan Gonzalez reached first after being hit by a pitch and Miller reached on a single. A wild pitch moved the two to second and third, respectively. Eduardo Lopez went down on strikes but a Gilberto Jimenez ground out was enough to plate Gonzalez to make it 2-1.

With two outs, Nick Decker walked, giving the Drive runners at first and third with a chance for Eddinson Paulino to plate the tying run. Paulino would go down on strikes to end the game.

The Drive (Boston Red Sox) and Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh Pirates) are back in action at First National Bank Field on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The series between the two teams favors Greensboro, 3-1. The Drive return to Fluor Field on April 25 to face the Hudson Valley Renegades (New York Yankees).

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 22, 2023


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