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SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive complete first sweep with 7-6 win

June 4, 2006 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Kannapolis, NC - The Greenville Drive scored all seven of their runs in the first three innings and held on to a 7-6 victory over the Kannapolis Intimidators. The win Sunday night at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium completed Greenville's first sweep of the season and ran their winning streak to a season-high four games. Greenville is now 30-26 on the season and one game behind the Augusta GreenJackets for second place in the Southern Division of the South Atlantic League.

The Drive opened up the game with two runs in the top of the first for the second straight night. With one out, Kannapolis starter Derek Rodriguez hit Dominic Ramos with a pitch and then walked Yahmed Yema. A batter later Mark Wagner doubled to left, knocking in Ramos. Logan Sorensen then followed with a groundout to plate Yema.

Two more runs in the top of the second extended the Drive's lead to 4-0. Matt Mercurio singled to right before Christian Lara hit an inside-the-park home run to center field. It was Lara's first home of the season.

In the bottom of the second, Kannapolis would score two runs to cut Greenville's lead in half. Brandon Allen led off the inning and Adam Ricks followed with a two-run homer off Drive starter Clay Buchholz.

Greenville would finish up their scoring in the top of the third with three more runs. With the bases loaded and Jay Johnson at the plate, Rodriguez balked to allow Mike Leonard to score. Johnson then hit two-run single to center, scoring Lara and Mercurio.

The Intimidators would continue their comeback in the bottom of the third with two more runs. Anderson Gomes hit a one-out double before Fernando Valenzuela, Jr. homered to right field.

Kannapolis would add single runs in the seventh and eighth innings off reliever Kyle Fernandes, making the score 7-6, but that would be as close as Kannapolis would get. In the seventh, Paulo Orlando doubled to left and scored on Lenny Acosta's single to left-center. An inning later Valenzuela, Jr. led off by belting his second home run of the night.

Fortunately for the Drive, closer Blake Maxwell was able to close the door on Kannapolis in the bottom of the ninth en route to earning his sixth save of the season. After getting Orlando to groundout, Maxwell allowed a double to pinch hitter Salvador Sanchez and hit Brandon Johnson with a pitch before settling down.

Clay Buchholz (3-2) earned the victory allowing four runs on five hits while striking out eight in 5.0 innings of work.

The Drive return home on Monday, June 5th when they begin a four-game series with the Charleston RiverDogs, affiliate of the New York Yankees. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM at West End Field as Greenville will send left-hander Michael Rozier to the mound and Charleston will counter with left-hander Zach Kroenke.

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.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from June 4, 2006


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