SAL Greenville Drive

Drive Bats, Starter Blalock Boost Drive to 8-2 Win

Published on July 30, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


The Greenville Drive (14-16, 50-46) bookended their trip to Kentucky with wins thanks to an 8-2 victory over the Bowling Gree Hot Rods (17-13, 48-43) on Sunday afternoon. After four straight losses, tying their 2023 season-high losing streak, the Drive were able to couple a strong offensive performance with superior pitching giving them some momentum as they head into a 12-game homestand that begins Tuesday, August 1.

Bradley Blalock chipped in his second strong start of the week picking up his second win of the week and fifth win of the season, going a solid five innings while ringing up three and walking just one lone runner. The Hot Rods however would spring to the early lead in the bottom of the first Sunday. Following an Eddinson Paulino throwing error that put Carson Williams on first, Dominic Keegan notched his fifth homer of the year as he sent a two-run homer over the wall in left center to make it 2-0.

Blalock settled in from there allowing just three more hits through his five innings of work. Riding Blalock's superb work on the mound, the Drive found their groove at the plate. Paulino would make up for his earlier error with a two-run shot of his own in the fifth, sending a hard liner into the Drive bullpen in right field, knotting the game at 2-2.

After falling short in the four previous nights, Greenville would open the floodgates in the sixth, scratching across five runs to take a five-run lead that they would not relinquish. Following a Roman Anthony walk and an Allan Castro double, Brainer Bonaci sent a liner into right field to score Anthony, making it 3-2. Tyler Miller would chop in a one-out RBI single to boost the lead to 4-2 before a Paulino walk, then a Max Ferguson groundout would bring home another run to make it 5-2. Karson Simas followed Ferguson with a hard liner to left field, bringing in both Paulino and Miller to make it 7-2.

Felix Cepeda took over for Blalock in the sixth and continued to shut the door striking out two in his two innings of work while outfielder Allan Castro added his first home run in a Drive uniform with a blast to right center field, making it 8-2.

Brock Bell and Alex Hoppe each kept the Hot Rods from mounting a comeback in the eighth and ninth innings respectively. Bell would pitch a hitless inning while Hoppe allowed one hit and fanned one batter while getting a game-ending double play to give the Drive the victory.

The Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox) return to action at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1 as they open a 12-game homestand. They'll take on the Rome Braves (Atlanta Braves) August 1 - August 6 and take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh Pirates) August 8 - August 13.




South Atlantic League Stories from July 30, 2023


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