SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Come Alive, Win Series Finale 8-2

Published on May 27, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - In the previous seven games the offense and pitching were not in sync. If the Drive (27-26) was hitting, they lacked pitching and vice versa. That all changed Wednesday night as the Drive ended their eight-game home stand with a 8-2 victory over the Savannah Sand Gnats (22-30).

The offense was clicking on all cylinders, pounding out 12 hits as Luis Exposito, Will Vazquez and Manny Arambarris each registered three. Trailing 1-0 as they entered the bottom of the second, Greenville's scoring barrage began.

Arambarris collected his first of four RBIs on the evening with a run-scoring double off Savannah starter Maikel Cleto (1-4). Two innings later the Drive collected three more runs as they sent eight batters to the dish. Vazquez laced a double down the right-field line which scored two, and Arambarris added an RBI-single.

In the bottom of the seventh, things did not fair any better for Sand Gnats reliever Josh Stinson. Once again the Drive sent eight batters to the plate as they registered their final four runs, all with two outs in the inning. Exposito and Oscar Tejeda each knocked in a run with singles, and Arambarris culminated his evening wit a two-run single.

On the mound, Felix Doubront (6-2), Chad Povich, and Bryce Cox restored order for the pitching staff, as the trio ended the Drive's seven-game skid. Doubront began the game and went 5.1 innings, allowing Savannah's two lone runs on five hits while fanning six.

Povich and Cox held the Sand Gnats scoreless over the final 3.2 innings. Povich was perfect over 2.2 innings, striking out half of the batters he had faced. Cox shut the door on Savannah with a scoreless ninth.

After an off day Wednesday, the Drive head out of Greenville for an eight-game road trip, beginning with a four-game stop in Columbus. Right-hander Eammon Portice will toe the rubber for the Drive in the series opener, looking to continue their domination on the road, where they are 17-6 on the year.

The Drive return home to Fluor Field on Wednesday, June 4th for a brief two-game series with the Augusta GreenJackets. Single-game tickets, group outings, and luxury accommodations can be purchased by calling (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com for more information.

NOTES: Attendance was 5814

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 27, 2008


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