SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Blank Grasshoppers, 7-0

Published on April 17, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Pitching has been a constant for the Drive in the early-going of the 2008 season, and that continued Thursday night as three pitchers combined on 7-0 victory over the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Felix Doubront kept the ‘Hoppers off-balanced for the first 5 2/3 innings, scattering five hits without letting a Greensboro baserunner reach third base as he improved to a perfect 3-0. The southpaw also set a career-high with eight strikeouts.

The bullpen then continued their solid relief as Chad Povich and Felix Ventura combined on the final 3 1/3 scoreless frames. Povich allowed two hits and struckout one in 2 1/3 while Ventura struckout a pair in a perfect ninth.

The Drive broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third as David Marks began the inning with a double off Colby Miller (0-3) and advanced to third on Che-Hsuan Lin's single. Although Aaron Reza hit into a double play, it was enough to plate Marks.

With five runs over a three inning period, from the sixth through the eighth innings, the Drive were able to blow the game wide open. Ty Weeden began the offensive onslaught with a solo round tripper to straight-away center field in the sixth.

In the seventh Greenville doubled their pleasure with three two-baggers, accounting for a pair of runs. After a leadoff double by Yamaico Navarro, Mike Jones hit a one-out two-base hit. Jones later scored on a wild pitch before Manny Arambarris hit a double of his own.

An inning later the Drive added two more runs off newly acquired Matt Mallory, assisted by a fielding error by Greensboro second baseman Danny Garcia. Jones collected his second and third RBI of the evening on his third hit, singling home Navarro and Reza on a two-out single.

The Drive conclude their four-game set with the Grasshoppers Friday with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. A fireworks display will follow the conclusion of the game.

Greenville will look for their third straight series victory as Japanese-import Terumasa Matsuo takes the mound for the Drive. Greensboro will counter with Brett Durand.

For more information about single-game tickets, ticket plans, luxury accommodations, or group outings, visit www.greenvilledrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

NOTES: With his outing, Doubront lowered his ERA to 0.57 and now has 17 strikeouts to just one walk...The three shutouts by the Drive thus far has already eclipsed 2007's total of two...Attendance was 5125

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 17, 2008


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