SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive End Regular Season with 5-3 Loss

Published on September 6, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The Drive (77-62, 41-28) and Hickory Crawdads did the majority of their scoring early in Monday's contest to closeout the 2010 regular season. But it was a one-sided affair as Hickory (75-64, 35-34) notched a 5-2 victory at Fluor Field.

In similar fashion to yesterday, the Crawdads scored in the first inning by plating two runs on a pair of solo homers. After starting pitcher Yeiper Castillo (4-5) retired the first two batters of the frame, he surrendered back-to-back, two-out round trippers to Jared Bolden and Zach Zaneski.

The Drive would answer with two-out, RBI-single by Sean Killeen in their first turn at bat, but Hickory retaliated with two more runs in the top of the second.

Those would be the game's only runs until the ninth inning, as both teams' hurlers went to work. The Crawdads' Jake Brigham (6-5) concluding his six-inning outing with five consecutive shutout frames before turning it over to the bullpen. For the Drive, Manuel Rivera replaced Castillo to start the fourth inning, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings of one-hit ball.

Jeremiah Bayer worked around a hit and two walks in 2.0 innings of relief, before Hickory took a four-run lead with a run in the top of the ninth off Anatanaer Batista.

Greenville would try for a late rally, only to come up just short in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Jose Garcia lifted a sacrifice fly. The Crawdads then brought in reliever Joseph Ortiz who was able to strikeout pinch hitter Reynaldo Rodriguez.

Jeremy Hazelbaker then singled to center, scoring a run and advancing Felix Sanchez from first to third. Sanchez, who joined the Drive from Lowell earlier in the day, attempted to score as Leury Garcia bobbled the relay throw. However, the shortstop was able to gun down Sanchez at the plate, bringing an end to the game.

Following an off day on Tuesday, the Drive will welcome the first half Southern Division Champion Savannah Sand Gnats for Game 1 of the best-of-three series. First pitch is schedule for 7:05 PM at Fluor Field, as Greenville will send southpaw Drake Britton (2-3, 2.97 ERA) to the hill.

Tickets for Wednesday's playoff game against Savannah, which has a first pitch time of 7:05 PM, as well as the South Atlantic Championship Series are now on sale. For more information regarding single-game ticket, luxury accommodations, and group outings, call (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from September 6, 2010


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