SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Fall to Crawdads, 8-4

Published on August 4, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - What seemed like it would be another close game on Saturday night ended up getting away from the Greenville Drive (55-57, 21-21), as they fell to the Hickory Crawdads (59-53, 23-20) 8-4 at Fluor Field.

The game was tied at four entering the seventh inning before Hickory struck against new Drive pitcher Justin Erasmus (1-3). Trever Adams drew a walk to lead off the frame, and after a double from Kellin Deglan, Jordan Akins launched a three-run homer to straightaway center, giving the Crawdads a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Deglan added to that lead in the top of the ninth when he led off against Erasmus with a solo homer over the right field wall.

The Drive scored the first run of the night in the bottom of the first. Bryan Johns led off with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout. After stealing third base, he came in to score on Keury De la Cruz's groundout to second.

Hickory answered with two runs in the top of the second and two more in the third. Alejandro Selen led off the second with a deep homer to left center against Drive starter Jason Garcia. Two batters later, Jorge Alfaro reached on a fielder's choice and was plated all the way from first on Adams' double to right center.

Luis Sardinas led off the third for Hickory with a walk, and he advanced to second when Garcia balked and hurt himself, forcing him to leave the game. Matty Ott came in relief and allowed a groundout to Rougned Odor, but forced in a run when he struck out Zach Cone and the ball squirted away, scoring Sardinas.

That was the only run Ott gave up on the night, as he gave the Drive four very good innings after coming in early for Jason Garcia. He allowed two hits and the one unearned run while striking out three.

Greenville's big offensive inning came in the bottom of the third, when Jose Garcia cracked a three-run homer over the Green Monster in left to tie the game at four against Crawdads starter Kevin Matthews.

Paul Schwendel (1-0) picked up the win for the Crawdads, firing four scoreless frames while punching out four Drive hitters. Deglan and Drew Robinson collected two hits for Hickory, while Akins drove in three runs. Garcia was the only Drive hitter to pick up a pair of hits, and he also drove in three.

The same two teams meet tomorrow afternoon at Fluor Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05. RHP Luis Diaz (3-6, 5.81) gets the call for Greenville, while Hickory will send RHP Nick Martinez (5-6, 4.88 ERA) to the mound.

Sunday is also Family FunDay at the ballpark, in which kids 12 and under eat free, courtesy of BI-LO. Following the game, kids will have the opportunity to run the bases, courtesy of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 4, 2012


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