SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Hang on Late for 7-5 Victory over Crawdads

Published on April 10, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


It took five innings for the Greenville Drive (4-3) offense to wake up on Wednesday with an 11 AM start, but the bats awoke to the tune of 11 hits in a victory over the Hickory Crawdads (2-5). The win gave the Drive a 2-1 series win.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning, the Drive scored four runs to take a lead they wouldn't surrender. After a leadoff single by Aneury Tavarez and a walk to David Chester, Kendrick Perkins doubled to center, plating Tavarez and advancing Chester to third. During Nick Moore's at-bat, Crawdads starter C.J. Edwards (0-1) uncorked a wild pitch to bring Chester home and tie the game.

With one out, Jayson Hernandez dropped a single into center field to score Perkins. The Drive scored their final run of the frame against Hickory reliever Coby Cowgill, as Mookie Betts doubled to center field to bring home Jose Vinicio, who singled and stole second.

The big fifth inning was enough to make a winner out of Drive reliever Jason Garcia (2-0), who relieved starter Justin Haley after Haley walked six hitters in three innings. Garcia threw five innings while giving up four hits, three runs and one walk while punching out eight Hickory batters. JB Wendelken pitched a perfect ninth inning while striking out the side to pick up his first save of the season.

The Drive added two more runs in the eighth to extend their lead, as Chester's single to left field scored Betts, who drew a leadoff walk, and Drew Turocy, who reached on an error.

Hickory made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth with two runs against Garcia. A pair of singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases, and a single to second base by Luis Mendez scored a pair, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

Greenville answered right back in the ninth with an insurance run to seal the game, as Betts drove a John Kukuruda offering over the left-field wall for his first homer of the season.

Hernandez picked up three hits for the Drive, while Betts and Tavarez added two hits apiece. Jorge Alfaro was the lone Crawdads hitter with two hits.

The Drive will continue their seven-game road trip on Thursday as they travel to play the Lexington Legends in a four-game series. Thursday's game will begin at 7:05 PM. RHP Pat Light (0-0, 9.00) will get the ball on Thursday night for the Drive, while RHP Miguel Almonte (0-1, 5.79) will start for the Legends.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 10, 2013


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