SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Fall Again To Grasshoppers, 2-1

July 7, 2006 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greensboro, NC - Although the Greenville Drive out hit the Greensboro Grasshoppers Friday night at First Horizon Park, they couldn't plate runners when it mattered most and inevitably fell to the ‘Hoppers 2-1. With the loss the Drive dropped to 10-6 in the second half of the season, two and a half games behind first place Augusta.

The Drive took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. However it was the only run they would score. With two outs, Luis Soto doubled to left off Grasshoppers starter Aaron Thompson. Mark Wagner followed with a double of his own, plating Soto.

In the bottom of the fourth Greensboro tied the game with a run on two hits off Greenville's Michael Rozier. After surrendering a leadoff single to Jeff Van Houten, Rozier allowed back-to-back walks to Andrew Jenkins and Kris Harvey to load the bases. Brett Hayes then hit a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Van Houten to score.

Reliever Hunter Jones (1-5) suffered the loss for the Drive as he allowed the ‘Hoppers second run in the bottom of the seventh, his first inning of work. Juan Figueroa led off with a single and advanced to third on Jonathan Fulton's double to right. James Guerrero, who had made several run-saving plays defensively, hit a sac fly to center to score the eventual game winning run.

David Humen earned his second win for the Grasshoppers, tossing a perfect seventh inning. Blake Jones then closed out the Drive in the eighth and ninth innings to pick up his 15th save of 2006.

The Drive continue their seven-game road trip tomorrow with the start of a three-game series in Kannapolis, NC versus the Intimidators. Greenville will send right-hander Clay Buchholz to the mound in search of his fifth win of the year.

The Drive return home to West End Field on Wednesday, July 12th when they host the Asheville Tourists at 12:05 PM for a "Businessperson's Special."

Tickets to all Drive home games can be purchased by calling the Drive Ticket Office at 864-240-4528 or online at www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from July 7, 2006


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