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SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive defeat Suns 8-3 in new uniforms

August 8, 2006 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - On a night in which the City of Greenville's 175th Anniversary was celebrated and the Drive unveiled their green alternate uniforms, the team would not be denied a victory as they defeated the Hagerstown Suns 8-3. With the win the Drive improved to 25-20 in the second half, and are 9.0 games out of first as the Augusta GreenJackets were shutout.

The Drive were led by stellar pitching by Clay Buchholz who picked up his team-leading eighth victory of the season with 5.0 shutout innings. The former first round selection allowed two hits while striking out six to earn a win in his fourth straight decision.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Drive broke a scoreless tie with six runs (five earned) charged to Suns starter Zac Clements. Tony Granadillo plated the first run as he doubled home Yahmed Yema, who had reached base with a leadoff walk. Aaron Bates then singled home Granadillo before Clements hit Chris Turner with a pitch and walked Luis Soto to load the bases.

Mitch Stachowsky's single to right field added another run and kept the bases loaded with no outs. Christian Lara followed with a routine grounder to Hector Pellot that allowed Turner to score, but a throwing error by Pellot also allowed Soto to cross home. The Drive's final run of the inning came when Mickey Hall singled to right, knocking in Stachowsky.

The Suns attempted a comeback with two runs in the top of the sixth and another in the seventh. In the sixth, three straight hits by Armand Gaerlan, Jose Castro, and Pellot to leadoff the inning against reliever Chad Rhoades plated Hagerstown's first run. With two outs, Nick Evans provided the other run with an RBI single to left, scoring Castro.

An inning later, the Suns cut the Drive lead to three with an RBI single by Castro, plating Rafael Arroyo. However the run was unearned, as Arroyo had advanced earlier on a passed ball.

Tony Granadillo answered back in the bottom of the seventh to put the game out of reach. After a leadoff single by Yema, Granadillo blasted his 12th homer of the season over the Green Monster. He is currently second on the team in long balls, six behind Turner.

The Drive and Suns conclude their four-game series Wednesday with a "Business Persons Special" at 12:05 PM. Right-hander Michael Bowden will toe the rubber for Greenville as Hagerstown counters with right-hander Bobby Parnell.

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.

NOTES: Tony Granadillo and Aaron Bates led the Drive with two hits apiece...Jose Castro of Hagerstown led all batters with three hits...Attendance was 5755

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