SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Drop Second Straight Contest to Legends

Published on April 10, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Lexington, KY - Tuesday's game in Lexington was a back-and-forth contest marred by errors, but a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh gave the Lexington Legends a 5-4 win over the Greenville Drive.

With the score 4-3 in favor of Lexington in the seventh, the Drive (2-4) managed to tie the game as Kervin Suarez reached on a two-base error, stole third base, and came home on a sacrifice fly by C.J. Chatham.

That tie was short-lived, as Michael Gigliotti led off the bottom half with a solo homer to right off Devon Fisher (0-1) to put the Legends (5-1) back ahead for good.

The defensive struggles spoiled solid efforts by both starting pitchers. Jhonathan Diaz worked five and two-third innings for the Drive, allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven. On the other side, Legends hurler Nolan Watson gave up only one earned run with six strikeouts in five and one-third innings.

Both teams struck in the first inning. Suarez reached on an error to begin the game, stole second, and advanced to third when the throw got away. Michael Osinski then hit an infield single to score Suarez and extend his hitting streak to five games. Lexington countered with two runs in the bottom half after back-to-back doubles by Marten Gasparini and Nick Pratto, as well as a double steal of second and home.

Osinski's second RBI of the night tied the game at two in the third inning, as his groundout plated Samuel Miranda, who reached base on another error.

The Drive took a 3-2 lead in the fifth as Frankie Rios drew a leadoff walk and came in later in the inning on an RBI hit by Chatham. Lexington answered back once again with a run to tie the game on a single by Gigliotti.

Carter Hope (2-0) got the win for the Legends in relief, and Sal Biasi held the one-run lead in the ninth to record his second save.

Chatham went 2-4 with two RBI to pace the Greenville offense, and like Osinski, he too has hit safely in all five of his games. Gigliotti and Pratto picked up two hits apiece for Lexington.

The Drive will look to avoid being swept in the three-game series on Wednesday morning. First pitch for the series finale is at 10:35 AM. Right-hander Kutter Crawford (0-0, 2.25) will start on the mound for the Drive, and the Legends will counter with left-hander Garrett Davila (0-0, 6.00).

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 10, 2018


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