SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Fall in Series Finale Versus Braves, 6-1

Published on May 10, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The Drive (20-17) may have been looking ahead to their off day on Sunday, as they dropped the series finale to the Rome Braves (13-23), 6-1, in front of the largest crowd of the year at Fluor Field - 6,312.

The Drive plated their only run in the bottom of the first, recording three of their five hits in the inning. Che-Hsuan Lin extended his hit streak to 16-games with a leadoff single and would come around to score after two stolen bases and a Yamaico Navarro single.

From there Rome starter Jose Ortegano (1-2) was on cruise control, retiring seven batters in a row at one point while allowing just two more Greenville hits in his 7.0 inning outing. From the second through the eighth innings, Ortegano and reliever Edgar Osuna did not allow a single Drive baserunner to reach second base.

Meanwhile the Rome offense attacked Jose Alvarez (1-5) for five runs over 5.0 innings. Jon Gilmore and Randy Gress gave the Braves the lead in the top of the second, with back-to-back RBI-groundouts. In the fifth, Rome took a commanding four run lead as David Berres scored on an error, and Freddie Freeman belted a two-run homer.

A scary moment occurred in the top of the fifth as Mike Jones and Braves batter CJ Lee collided on a force out at first base. After several minutes of being checked on by both trainers, Jones and Lee were able to walk-off under their own power. Both players, however, were substituted for as a precautionary measure.

Relievers Jordan Craft, Daniel Bard, and Kyle Fernandes were able to hold the potent Braves offense to a minimum, allowing just a run on Heyward's RBI-double in the seventh, over the final four innings.

The bottom of the ninth was indicative of the Drive's misfortune as they loaded the bases with no outs against Cory Gearrin. However, Greenville was unable to push across a run as Benino Pruneda recorded three straight strikeouts to end the threat and earn his second save.

After an off day on Sunday, the Drive head out on the road for their second eight-game road trip of the season with stops in Charleston and Savannah. Felix Doubront will toe the rubber for the Drive on Monday as the RiverDogs counter with right-hander Lance Pendleton.

Although the Drive will be on the road, Fluor Field will still feature exciting collegiate baseball on Tuesday as the Furman Paladins square off against the Tennessee Volunteers. For more information on single-game tickets, group outings, and luxury accommodations, visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 10, 2008


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