SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Defeat Augusta 4-3 in 15-Inning

Published on August 5, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Fans who stuck around as Monday night's game between the Greenville Drive (12-32, 46-67) and the Augusta GreenJackets (20-24, 54-58) lasted into Tuesday morning were rewarded with some heroics from the home team, as Cole Sturgeon smacked a game-winning double in the bottom of the 15th inning to give the Drive a 4-3 win.

The 15-inning contest marked the longest game of the season for the Drive, and it tied for the second longest game in franchise history, following only the Drive's 16-inning game against Lake County on August 2nd, 2006.

On a night where the game lasted four hours and 33 minutes following a 34 minute pregame weather delay, the final half inning moved quickly, as Manuel Margot singled against Connor Kaden (0-1), stole second, and came in when Sturgeon's doubled short-hopped the right-center field wall.

Both bullpens were nothing short of outstanding, as no runs were scored in the game after the sixth inning until the walkoff run. Five Augusta relievers combined to allow just one run in nine innings with 12 strikeouts, and three Greenville relievers, Myles Smith, Mike Adams and Raynel Velette (6-2) combined to allow just one unearned run in 10 innings of work.

The GreenJackets scored twice against Drive starter Ty Buttrey, who struck out seven in five solid innings. Craig Massoni's RBI double in the second scored Rafael Rodriguez, who also doubled, and Jeremy Sy cracked a solo homer to left in the third.

The Drive cut the lead to one in the bottom of the third on Margot's RBI double off Steven Messner to score Jimmy Rider, who walked and moved to second on a balk. An RBI double by Tim Roberson in the fourth scored Franklin Guzman to tie the game.

After Augusta plated a run against Smith in the sixth on Ryan Jones's RBI single, the Drive countered with a run on a passed ball in the bottom half.

Margot went 3-7 out of the leadoff spot for Greenville, while Rodriguez had three hits for Augusta and Sy added two of his own.

The series continues on Tuesday night at Fluor Field at 7:05. LH Trey Ball (1-9, 5.65) starts for the Drive, and the GreenJackets counter with RH Joan Gregorio (2-3, 3.08).

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