Drive Live to Play Another Day Following 3-2 Win Over BlueClaws
September 17, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Greenville, SC - With their backs against the walls and facing elimination, the Drive forced a Game 4 of the South Atlantic League Championship series, following a 3-2 victory on Thursday night at Fluor Field.
Following back-to-back losses in New Jersey despite outhitting the Lakewood BlueClaws, the roles were reversed in Game 3 of the best-of-five series. The BlueClaws tallied 11 hits, while Greenville collect six, three of which were by Pete Hissey.
Through the first four innings, the game was a stalemate and a pitchers' duel between both Drive starter Stolmy Pimentel and BlueClaws starter Trevor May. Each worked through four innings of scoreless ball, getting out of a number of situations with runners on base.
However, the BlueClaws broke through in the top of the fifth as Travis d'Arnaud doubled with one out, and scored as Jim Murphy's double found the right-centerfield gap.
Having left runners in scoring position in the first, third, and fourth innings, it appeared as if the Drive would lack the clutch hit as they had in the first two games of the series. But in the bottom of the sixth, that all changed.
Leadoff batter Zach Gentile drew a walk, and following a one-out walk to Will Middlebrooks, the Southern Division Championship Series hero Mitch Dening tied the game with an RBI-double off Jacob Diekman (0-1).
With Lakewood turning to the bullpen again, Casey Kelly gave the Drive the lead with a run-scoring single. Ty Weeden's sacrifice fly, which proved to be the eventual game-winner, padded Greenville's lead to two runs.
Following Pimentel's five strong innings, reliever Jeremy Kehrt (2-0) worked 3.2 innings out of the bullpen. The BlueClaws pulled within a run on Travis Mattair's RBI-double in the eighth, and had two runners on base with two outs in the ninth.
Kyle Rutter came into record the final out of the ballgame, inducing Sebastian Valle to flyout to rightfield to earn his second postseason save.
With the Drive gaining confidence and a shift in the momentum, they will turn to another 10-game winner in Game 4 on Friday in southpaw Fabian Williamson (10-5, 2.42 ERA). The BlueClaws will counter with a lefty of their own, Kyle Noles (1-0, 1.17 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 PM from Fluor Field.
Following the game, fans will be treated to the final fireworks show of the season. For more information regarding single-game tickets, group outings, and luxury accommodations, visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.
GAME NOTES:
Attendance was 3,240...all 3 of the Drive's wins in the postseason have been by a 3-2 score...Lakewood pitcher Trevor May extended his consecutive scoreless inning streak to 21.0
South Atlantic League Stories from September 17, 2009
- Drive Live to Play Another Day Following 3-2 Win Over BlueClaws - Greenville Drive
- Drive Stay Alive, BlueClaws Still Lead Series 2-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Crawdads Announce Front Office Promotions - Hickory Crawdads
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