SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive outlast Intimidators in slugfest, 14-9

Published on July 9, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Kannapolis, NC - Sunday evening's game between the Greenville Drive and Kannapolis Intimidators will not be remembered as a pitchers duel. The two teams combined for 23 runs on 24 hits as the Drive found themselves on the winning side of a 14-9 score. With the win Greenville improved to 11-7 in the second half and moved into a tie for second place with the Asheville Tourists.

The Intimidators struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first off Drive starter Michael Bowden. After Paulo Orlando reached base with a leadoff walk and stole second, Aaron Cunningham singled to knock him in. After Cunningham stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, he scored on a Juan Camacho groundout.

After being shutdown in the first two innings, the Drive answered back with eight runs off Clayton Richard by sending 12 batters to the plate. Jay Johnson led off with a double down the left field line and then scored two batters later on Luis Soto's single. Mark Wagner followed with a double that knocked in Soto, and a throwing error by Javier Castillo allowed Wagner to score on the play as well.

Greenville then loaded the bases when Zak Farkes singled, Chris Turner doubled, and Mitch Stachowsky walked. Another error by the Intimidators on Logan Sorensen's at bat allowed another Drive run to score. A bases loaded walk issued to Christian Lara marked the end of the outing for Richard in favor of Rafael Flores. Johnson then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Stachowsky before Dominic Ramos closed out the inning's scoring with a two-run single.

The Drive added another run in the top of the fourth on two hits. Mark Wagner walked and advanced to third thanks to a groundout and a wild pitch. Chris Turner's sacrifice fly scored Wagner.

Kannapolis attempted to inch their way back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and another run in the fifth. In the fourth, Salvador Sanchez blasted his seventh homer of the season with Castillo aboard. An inning later Brenton Metheny hit a ground-rule double to score Orlando.

Five more runs by the Drive in the top of the sixth extended their lead to 14-5. A one out single by Turner scored Wagner. After a single by Sorensen, an error during Christian Lara's at bat allowed Turner to cross the plate. Johnson then provided the nail in the coffin with a three-run long ball to left.

The Intimidators would close out their scoring with three runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth. Kyle Fernandes surrendered three unearned runs in the seventh due to three errors by Zak Farkes. An inning later Orlando scored on Fernando Valenzuela, Jr.'s groundout against Ismael Casillas.

Despite surrendering five runs over 5.0 innings of work, Bowden was able to pick up his team-leading sixth win of the season.

The Drive and Intimidators conclude their three-game series tomorrow at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Greenville will send left-hander Ryan Phillips to the hill as Kannapolis counters with right-hander Daniel Cortes.

The Drive return home to West End Field on Wednesday, July 12th when they host the Asheville Tourists at 12:05 PM for a "Businessperson's Special."

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: Tonight's game marked the first time all season that all nine Drive batters recorded a hit...Jay Johnson led Greenville with four RBI...Luis Soto went 3-for-6 at the plate...Johnson, Mark Wagner, Chris Turner, and Christian Lara each chipped in with two hits

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 9, 2006


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