SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive narrowly escape with victory over Crawdads

Published on June 22, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Hickory, NC - The Greenville Drive kicked off the second half of the season in dramatic fashion with a 5-4 victory Thursday night over the Hickory Crawdads at L.P. Frans Stadium. With two outs in the top of the eighth, first baseman Logan Sorensen ripped a triple to right scoring Jay Johnson, for the eventual game winner.

The Crawdads struck first in the bottom of the first inning against Drive starter Mike Rozier. Brent Lillibridge scored on Andrew McCutchen's sacrifice fly ball to make it 1-0 Hickory.

Greenville plated two off of Hickory right hander Joe Bauserman in the second inning. Chris Turner slammed a two run shot to give Greenville the lead. The Drive made it 3-1 on Johnson's solo dinger in the third inning. It was 4-1 Greenville after Bubba Bell's single scoring Turner in the fourth.

The ‘Dads rallied for a pair in the fourth inning on Tony Masnolino's two run shot to make it 4-3. Jason Delaney tied the contest with a homer in the seventh inning.

With the game even in the eighth, Crawdad reliever Jean Garavito came out for his second inning of work. After striking out the side in the seventh, he allowed a one out infield single to Johnson. After a ground out moved the runner to second, and a wild pitch put Johnson at third with two outs, Sorenson tripled into the right field corner to make it 5-4 Greenville.

Rozier surrendered four runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out six in earning the no-decision. Reliever Jason Blackey tossed a scoreless seventh inning to pick up his second win of the season. Hunter Jones struck out three over the eighth and ninth innings while allowing just one hit to earn his fifth save.

The Drive and Crawdads continue their four-game series Friday night at 7 PM when Greenville sends right-hander Clay Buchholz to the mound. Hickory will counter with right-hander Luis Munoz. The Drive return home to West End Field on June 26th when they begin an eight-game home stand beginning with the Lexington Legends for a four-game showdown.

Tickets to all Drive home games can be purchased by calling the Drive Ticket Office at 864-240-4528 or online at www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

NOTES: The Drive's outfield led them offensively as Jay Johnson, Chris Turner, and Bubba Bell accounted for seven of the team's nine hits...Turner now has a hit in 12 of his last 14 games...Turner's 14 home runs currently leads the Drive and is also a career-high, his previous high was 11 homers (2005 with Greenville)

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 22, 2006


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