Drive Defeat Grasshoppers to Complete Series Sweep
August 17, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Greenville, SC - Behind seven outstanding innings from Jhonathan Diaz, the Greenville Drive defeated the Greensboro Grasshoppers 4-1 on Friday night to complete a three-game series sweep at Fluor Field.
The 5,265 fans on hand were treated to another terrific start from Diaz (9-8), as the southpaw struck out eight and gave up just one run on five hits and one walk.
Diaz received plenty of support from the Drive (31-23, 56-67) offense, as Jarren Duran went 4-4 with a pair of runs in the 12-hit effort.
The Drive took a 1-0 lead in the second when Tanner Nishioka doubled into the right field corner off Taylor Braley (5-7) and scored when Zach Sterry followed with a triple off the wall in center.
The score remained there as Diaz and Braley traded zeroes until the bottom of the sixth. Duran doubled to left to begin the inning, and Pedro Castellanos delivered a double of his own to plate Duran.
The Grasshoppers (21-29, 55-63) brought in their only run against Diaz in the seventh when Will Banfield singled with one out and later scored on a fielder's choice by J.D. Osborne.
Two more runs in the eighth provided some insurance for Greenville. Duran singled and stole second with one out, and he came home when Ryan Fitzgerald singled up the middle. Later in the frame, Tanner Nishioka shot a hard ground ball into left field to bring in Fitzgerald.
Devon Fisher held the Grasshoppers scoreless over the final two innings to record his seventh save of the season.
In addition to Duran's four hits, Castellanos and Nishioka collected two hits apiece.
The Drive will now welcome the Hickory Crawdads, a Texas Rangers affiliate, to Fluor Field for a four-game series beginning on Saturday night at 7:05. Right-hander Alex Scherff (1-5, 6.32) takes the mound in his first start for the Drive since going on the disabled list in June, and Hickory will send right-hander Hans Crouse (0-0, 1.50) to the mound.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2018
- Suns Fall in Series Finale 15-3 on Friday - Hagerstown Suns
- Drive Defeat Grasshoppers to Complete Series Sweep - Greenville Drive
- Encarnacion's Jolt Powers 'Birds Late - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Dogs Cough up Late Lead, Spoiling Mauricio's Six Shutout and a Series Sweep - Charleston RiverDogs
- Moberg, Bouchard Go Deep in T's Victory - Asheville Tourists
- Legends Triumphant In 15-3 Victory In Hagerstown - Lexington Legends
- Balanced Attack Gives BlueClaws Fifth Straight Win as Claws Topple Rome - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Strong Performances from Ziegler, Parra, Geraldo Not Enough - Augusta GreenJackets
- Friday's Finale in Charleston Cancelled Due to Rain - Columbia Fireflies
- Friday's Series Finale against Columbia Cancelled - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Fireflies Game Notes: August 17 at West Virginia (Game 119) - Columbia Fireflies
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (august 17) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Preview: Hoppers Hope to Stop Slide at Drive - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Newman Debuts with Pirates Thursday at PNC Park - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hickory Crawdads Weekly Recap - Hickory Crawdads
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