SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Drop Tough One to Crawdads, 3-2

Published on September 3, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The Drive (76-60, 40-26) were unable to do their part to move closer to a second-half Southern Division title Friday night at Fluor Field, as they lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to the Hickory Crawdads (73-63, 33-33).

The Drive now have three games remaining as they try to wrap up the second-half division title.

Down 3-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Greenville put together a rally that ultimately fell just short.

Vladimir Frias drew a leadoff walk against the Crawdads' Johan Yan, and Reynaldo Rodriguez followed that with a pinch-hit single to right-field that allowed Frias to move to third.

Shannon Wilkerson then singled up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2, but Jeremy Hazelbaker popped up to short before Kenneth Roque (who had entered the game in the eighth inning) grounded into a double play that brought the rally, and the game, to a sudden and disappointing end for the Drive.

Hickory's Yan was credited with his second save of the season.

Hickory had taken its first lead of the game in the top of the eighth with a string of two-out hits against Drive reliever Dennis Neuman (0-3), who would end up being saddled with the loss.

With his team trailing 1-0, Zach Zaneski doubled to deep center and was subsequently brought home by Jared Prince, who singled up the middle.

The big blow then came courtesy of Guillermo Pimentel, who launched a majestic two-run homer to left to give Hickory a 3-1 lead.

The game was actually scoreless over the first five innings.

Drive starter Kendal Volz pitched four innings of three-hit ball while striking out five.

Armando Zerpa then tossed three scoreless frames before Neuman came in for the eighth.

As for the Crawdads, starter Miguel De Los Santos pitched 5.1 innings while not allowing a run until Sean Killeen's RBI-single in the sixth that plated Michael Almanzar for a 1-0 Greenville lead.

Almanzar had reached on a walk, and then got all the way to third on a wild pitch that was followed by an errant throw by Hickory catcher Zach Zaneski.

Reliever Joseph Ortiz (4-1) then came in and stopped the Drive right there, and he ended up pitching 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the win.

The Drive and Crawdads will go at it again Saturday night at Fluor Field, as righty Chris Balcom-Miller (6-7, 3.31 ERA)

makes his Drive debut against Hickory right-hander Matt Thompson (9-8, 4.29 ERA).

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

For more information regarding single-game ticket, luxury accommodations, and group outings, call (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com

NOTES:

At the time of this story, Asheville and Savannah were tied 4-4 in the 12th inning

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from September 3, 2010


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