SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive, Intimidators Split Twinbill

Published on April 6, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The opportunity to sweep the doubleheader with Kannapolis was there for the taking, but the Drive managed just a split with a 6-0 victory in game one, and a heart-wrenching 5-4 loss in the second game in front of 5,919 fans at Fluor Field at the West End.

Pitchers Felix Doubront (1-0) and Daniel Bard, both of whom had auspicious 2007 seasons, showed flashes of brilliance as they combined on a five-hit shutout in game one. In 5.0 innings of work Doubront scattered all five of Kannapolis' hits, and issued one walk while fanning two. On two occasions, the Intimidators had a runner on third with less than two outs, but failed to push the run across.

Bard then picked up where his teammate left off, allowing just a single baserunner with a hit by pitch, while striking out three in 2.0 innings.

Former Drive pitcher and Kannapolis' game one starter, Miguel Socolovich (0-1), did not fair well as he was roughed up for five runs on six hits and four walks in 3.0 innings. After back-to-back one out singles in the bottom of the second by David Mailman and Aaron Reza, Che-Hsuan Lin broke the scoreless tie with a two-out RBI-single.

After adding a run in the third, the Drive offense put together a slew of hits, sending all nine batters to plate and registering four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Reza began the hit parade with a solo homer. Socolovich would not register an out as he walked Kristopher Negron and a double to Lin before being lifted for Santo Luis. Josh Reddick added the Drive's final two runs with a single.

In game two, Kannapolis was able to plate a run in the top of the seventh to steal the game away from Greenville despite being out-hit by the Drive, 9-7. With the score tied at four, Sergio Morales led off the seventh with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.

After Jordan Craft (0-1) hit Christian Marrero with a pitch, the Intimidators were able to score the eventual winner with a sacrifice fly by Jim Gallagher. Shortstop Yamaico Navarro caught the pop up in foul territory in short left field, but it was deep enough to score Morales.

Trailing, 2-0 the Drive plated a run in the home half of the second, and took the lead with three more runs in the third. Catcher Will Vazquez doubled home a run in the second, Navarro singled home a run in the third, and Reza continued his hot hitting with a two-run double.

The lead did not last long as the Intimidators answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Logan Johnson and Joe Perischina each tallied an RBI to tie the game.

The Drive now head on the road for an eight-game road trip, with stops at Lexington and West Virginia. Right-hander Austin Bailey will make his first start of 2008 Monday evening in Lexington versus the Legends. The Drive return home Tuesday, April 15th for a four-game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

For more information about single-game tickets, ticket plans, luxury accommodations, and group outings, visit www.greenvilledrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

NOTES: Aaron Reza went a combined 3-for-4 with a round tripper, 3 RBI, and run scored in the two games...As a team the Drive batted .302 (16-for-53) during the doubleheader, after hitting just .194 (13-for-67) in the first two games of the series...Through the first four games, Josh Reddick leads the Drive with 6 RBI...Attendance was 5919

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 6, 2008


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