SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Can't Continue Scoring Barrage, Lose 5-2

Published on April 21, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Augusta, GA - After the top of the first inning, it looked as if the Drive's hot bats would continue to roll. However the two runs were all Greenville (11-8) could muster in a 5-2 loss in Monday's rubber match against the Augusta GreenJackets (10-9).

The first five batters in the Drive's lineup accounted for the pair of runs as Che-Hsuan Lin and Josh Reddick led off the game with back-to-back doubles. Two batters later Anthony Rizzo knocked in Reddick on a fielder's choice.

However that is where the Drive's offense ended as Augusta starter Orlando Yntema along with relievers Steven Calicutt (1-1) and Daniel Otero combined to allow just four more Drive hits in the final eight innings.

The GreenJackets made short work of the Drive's two-run lead, as they plated a pair of runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Thomas Corona delivered an RBI-double and Ramon Corona added a sacrifice fly.

Eammon Portice (1-3) settled down to allow just one hit over the next three innings before hitting a fall in the fifth. The first four batters reached base for the ‘Jackets with Brock Bond hitting a run-scoring single and Neal belting a two-run homer.

Despite the loss, Jones continued his domination of South Atlantic League pitching with a 2-for-4 effort that extended his hitting streak to 13-games and raised his league-leading average to .419. Lin added a tri-fecta of hits for the Drive, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish.

Daniel Bard also continued his impressive start to the 2008 season out of the bullpen, adding another 2 2/3 perfect innings while fanning three. The right-hander has not allowed a run in any of his seven appearances, spanning 14 1/3 innings, with 19 punchouts and just two walks.

After an off day Tuesday, the Drive begin a six-game home stand on Wednesday starting with the Asheville Tourists. Southpaw Felix Doubront will toe the rubber for Greenville and look for his fourth straight win to begin the season as Asheville counters with right-hander Bruce Billings.

Wednesday's game will be the Drive's second Businessperson Special, presented by Find Great People, of the season with first pitch at 11:05 AM. Fluor Field will host a bevy of baseball in the span of 24 hours beginning Tuesday, April 22nd as the South Carolina Gamecocks and Furman Paladins square-off at 7:05 PM. After the Drive's early game on Wednesday, the Clemson Tigers and Presbyterian Blue Hose will call Fluor Field home at 7:05 PM.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 21, 2008


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