SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Cruise Past Crawdads, 10-5

Published on June 22, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - It may not have been the prettiest of outings. But Jose Alvarez did just enough, and the Drive (43-31, 3-1) provided timely offense to give the southpaw his first victory at Fluor Field, defeating the Hickory Crawdads 10-5.

The Crawdads (31-43, 1-3) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third as Alvarez (5-8) was tagged for three extra base hits. After Keanon Simon led off with a double, Albert Laboy plated him with a two-bagger of his own. Miles Durham capped the inning off with a two-out, solo homer.

But the Drive would not go quietly as they answered in a big way in the bottom of the fourth, putting five runs on the board. Hickory starter Rafael De Los Santos (2-6) experienced some control issues as he hit Jered Stanley with a pitch, allowed a single to David Mailman, and walked Ty Weeden before retiring Oscar Tejeda.

With one swing of the bat, however, Manny Arambarris turned Greenville's three-run deficit into a one-run lead, blasting a grand slam over the Green Monster. Walks came into play in the Drive's favor an inning later as De Los Santos walked a pair before Tejeda hit an RBI-single.

Trailing by the three, it was the Crawdads turn to mount a comeback as they got as close as a run, scoring one in the sixth and eighth innings. Bobby Spain knocked in both runs, an RBI-single in the sixth and a sacrifice fly off Ryne Miller in the eighth.

Greenville saved their best offense inning for what would be their final at bat, pushing across four runs on three hits in the bottom of the eighth. Kristopher Negron singled home a pair and later scored when he and Che-Hsuan Lin executed a double steal, only to have Spain miss the ball at third base. Mike Jones accounted for the Drive's final run, scoring Lin with a sacrifice fly.

Alvarez allowed four runs on six hits and a pair walks, while fanning three in 5.1 innings before giving way to Kyle Foster. Foster tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and Miller pitched the final 2.0 innings to earn his second save of the year.

The Drive and Crawdads conclude their five-game series tomorrow evening with first pitch set for 7:05 PM at Fluor Field. All-Star southpaw Felix Doubront will toe the rubber for Greenville as Hickory counters with right-hander Dustin Molleken.

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

NOTES: Ty Weeden's 4-game hit streak stayed in tact as the catcher went 0-for-0 with four walks...Following a single, hit by pitch, and a walk in his first three at bats, DH Jered Stanley had reached base safely in seven consecutive at bats...Attendance was 4737

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 22, 2008


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