SAL Greenville Drive

Drive Drop Third Straight To Dash, Fall 8-5

Published on August 17, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


The Greenville Drive (20-25, 56-55) fared better than they did the previous two nights, but their efforts were not enough to steal a victory as the Winston-Salem Dash (17-26, 51-55) won their third straight game of the series, 8-5 on Thursday night.

Another early offensive outburst doomed the Drive again as the Dash battered starter Noah Song in the first inning. Back-to-back doubles led off the first for Winston-Salem bringing home a run before DJ Gladney belted his 17th homer of the year to put the Dash up 3-0. The inning would also see recently called up shortstop Mikey Romero exit the game with some discomfort after assisting on a groundout. Cutter Coffey replaced Romero at short for the remainder of the game. Song ultimately lasted just three innings, allowing eight hits and five runs while walking one.

Eddinson Paulino put the Drive on the board in the second on a groundout that moved Bryan Gonzalez home from third after he previously tripled. But that two-run deficit was short lived as the Dash added another run in the second as Andy Atwood stole home on an attempt to nab the baserunner Brooks Baldwin stealing second base. One inning later they added their fifth run on a Colbey Smelley groundout.

The Drive never found their rhythm at the plate, ultimately leaving six runners on while going 3-for-17 at the plate with runners in scoring position. They'd close the four-run deficit to three in the fifth as Nick Decker slapped an RBI-double, but that lead would go quickly back to four as the Dash scored on a fielding error by Gonzalez in the sixth.

Greenville would seemingly get back into the game in the eighth, however, as three straight singles, the last from Gonzalez, brought a run home. Two batters later Gilberto Jimenez, making his first appearance with the Drive since April after an injury sidelined him, reached on a fielder's choice allowing another run to score.

The momentum wouldn't last however as the Dash fortified their lead with a two-run inning of their own as Gladney launched his second homer of the game, a two-run shot off reliever Robert Kwiatkowski, making it 8-4. Kwiatkowski finished the night allowing just the home run while striking out two in his two innings of work.

Decker added a triple in the ninth and would be plated by a Roman Anthony groundout to cap the night' scoring at 8-5.

Jordan DiValerio also worked three innings of relief for the Drive, taking over for Song in the fourth. He'd allow one run on four hits, one walk and pick up a strikeout.

The Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox) return to action on Friday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. against the Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox). The Dash hold a 3-0 series lead.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2023


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