SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Edge Crawdads, 5-4, Behind Solid Bullpen Effort

Published on June 20, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Defense was not showcased Friday night at Fluor Field. In front of 6,027 fans the Drive and Crawdads combined for five errors. But Greenville (42-30, 2-0) was able to capitalize more so than their counterparts, as they squeaked out a 5-4 victory.

In a bit of a role reversal from last night, it was the Drive who scored early and often, posting five runs through the first four innings of play. David Mailman broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second as he singled home Mike Jones. An inning later Che-Hsuan Lin led off with a triple and later scored when Yamaico Navarro grounded into a double play.

The Drive mounted a five run lead as they pushed across a trio of runs in the bottom of the fourth off Duke Welker (1-4). After Luis Exposito struckout to begin the frame, the next three batters reached base for Greenville, including an RBI-double off the bat of Ty Weeden. Three batters later Ryan Kalish added an RBI-single.

The five runs appeared to be enough for starter Terumasa Matsuo as he was on cruise control through the first four innings, limiting the Hickory (30-42, 0-2) offense to just one base hit over that span. But the Crawdads figured out the Japanese pitcher in the top of the fifth, cutting their deficit to a lone run as they sent all nine batters to the plate.

Each of the first four batters of the inning reach base, as Keanon Simon put the Crawdads on the board with a two-run single. Albert Laboy added a sacrifice fly and Erik Huber an RBI-double before Matsuo was lifted with two outs, in favor of Ryne Lawson.

From there, however, both offenses seemed to go dormant, as each tallied one more hit in the remaining four innings. The duo of Ryne Lawson and Felix Ventua combined to toss 4.1 scoreless innings to secure the victory.

Lawson (3-2) allowed a pair of hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 2.1 innings to earn the victory. Ventura closed the door on the Crawdads in the final two innings for his team-leading eighth save, but not before things got a little dicey in the top of the ninth.

Hickory had runners on the corners with one out, the tying run just 90 feet away before Ventura induced Miles Durham into a game-ending double play.

The Drive and Crawdads continue their five-game series tomorrow evening with first pitch set for 7:05 PM at Fluor Field. Right-hander Chad Povich will toe the rubber for Greenville as Hickory counters with right-hander Brad Lincoln.

And don't forget Saturday is Mill League Night when the Drive will wear 1950's-era uniforms, honoring local mill league teams with all of the Drive's jerseys being auctioned off. Tomorrow's game will also be the first televised game from Fluor Field, as it will be broadcast on WMYA My40. For more information regarding single-game tickets, ticket plans, group outings and luxury accommodations, visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 20, 2008


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