SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive can't stop skid, fall to Tourists 5-4

Published on August 24, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Asheville, NC - Thursday night's match-up between the Greenville and Asheville turned into a race as the Tourists swiped seven bases en route to a 5-4 victory. The Drive fought back from three runs down to tie the game in the sixth inning, but ran out of gas as the Tourists went on to win the series opener.

The Drive's sixth loss in a row ties a season-high losing streak, and Greenville now stands one game below .500 in the second half, at 29-30.

Greenville was in trouble right off the bat as they left the bases loaded in the top of the first and then proceeded to fall behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first. With one out, Sally League stolen base leader Eric Young, Jr. singled and then got himself into scoring position as he stole his 81st base of the season. He then scored on a Cole Garner single.

The Tourists added to their lead with another run in the bottom of the second. Dexter Fowler hit a two-out single and stole second. After Young walked, the Tourists executed a double steal and a throwing error by catcher Mike Leonard on the play allowed Fowler to score.

Greenville would cut the lead in half in the top of the third. With two outs, Tony Granadillo picked up his second hit of the evening, doubling home Mickey Hall, who had led off the inning with a single.

However, Asheville would answer right back in the bottom half of the inning, collecting two more runs. Garner led off the inning with a double and two batters later, Daniel Carte belted a two-run homer to left.

Down 4-1, the Drive would plate three runs in the top of the sixth, tying the game. After a leadoff double by Luis Soto, Greenville got back-to-back, one-out RBI-doubles from Mike Leonard and Matt Mercurio. Mercurio would score the Drive's final run on a failed pickoff attempt.

Unfortunately, the tie game did not last long as the Tourists scored the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Fowler led off the inning with a bunt single and after stealing second, scored on single up the middle by Young. It was the only run that reliever Chad Rhoades surrendered in 3.1 innings of work, as he was loser, dropping his record to 0-4 on the season.

The Drive and Tourists continue their four-game series Friday night at McCormick Field with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Chris Jones will toe the rubber for Greenville in search of his fifth victory of 2006.

Tickets to all Drive home games can be purchased by calling the Drive Ticket Office at 864-240-4528 or online at www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

NOTES: With his 2-for-5 performance, Tony Granadillo improved his hitting streak to 12 games...Mickey Hall, Mike Leonard, and Matt Mercurio each added two hits...The seven stolen bases by the Tourists were the most allowed this season by the Drive

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 24, 2006


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