Drive Drop Second Straight to Braves
April 14, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
For the first time this season, the Greenville Drive (3-7) weren't able to scratch across a run in a 4-0 loss to the Rome Braves (6-4) on Saturday at Fluor Field.
Greenville was able to get runners in scoring position on three separate occasions but were unable to bring them across. Their best chance was in the second when Frankie Rios lined a two-out single to right, but the Rome right fielder made a perfect throw to nail Michael Osinski at the plate.
Rios was the only Drive player to record multiple hits in the game, but Osinski and C.J. Chatham both extended their hitting streaks to nine and eight games, respectively.
Drive starter Nick Duron was terrific in his first home start. He retired the side in the first inning and stayed strong from there. Overall, Duron fanned four batters throughout the game while allowing just one run to come across.
Meanwhile, the Braves pitching staff was strong all night as well. Braves starter Odalvi Javier struck out seven batters while giving up only three hits across 4.2 innings in his first South Atlantic League start. Left-hander Kelvin Rodriguez (1-0) pitched through the sixth to pick up the win.
Even though the bats went quiet Saturday, the Greenville gloves made several outstanding defensive plays in the contest to save hits and potential further runs for the Braves. The third baseman Osinski made a diving over-the-shoulder catch just into the outfield in the fourth with the bases loaded, and Rios dove and snagged a rocket to short and doubled up a baserunner to clear the bases in the ninth.
Rome scored first on a trio of singles in the fourth inning from Riley Delgado, Jefrey Ramos and Jean Carlos Encarnacion in the fourth inning.
The Braves tacked on three more runs in the seventh on a bases-loaded double from Delgado to push the lead to 4-0.
The Drive will try to split the four-game series at 4:05 PM on Sunday. Greenville is scheduled to start right-hander Alex Scherff (0-1, 9.00 ERA), and he will be opposed by Rome left-hander Kyle Muller (0-0, 4.26 ERA).
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