SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Overtaken by Tourists in 6-3 Loss

Published on July 19, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Following a three hour, 45 minute rain delay on Saturday night, the Greenville Drive (7-22, 41-57) came out and took an early lead, but the Asheville Tourists used a late-inning comeback to pick up a 6-3 win in the series opener at Fluor Field.

With the game tied at three in the top of the eighth, the Tourists took the lead against Jonathan Aro (1-3), who issued a leadoff walk to Max White. A sacrifice bunt and a groundout moved White to third, and Ryan McMahon's groundball was booted by Wendell Rijo, allowing the eventual winning run to score.

Michael Benjamin provided some insurance in the ninth inning with a two-run single to right that capped off a two-hit, four-RBI night for him.

Asheville's runs overshadowed the outstanding effort by Drive starter Trey Ball, who received a no-decision despite tossing five shutout innings and allowing just two hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

The Drive jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Konner Wade. Cole Sturgeon legged out an infield single to lead off the inning, moved to second on an error and came in to score on Franklin Guzman's RBI single. Jimmy Rider followed with a liner to right that was misplayed by Jordan Patterson for an error which allowed two runs to score.

The lead stood until the sixth, when Asheville rudely greeted Aro for three runs to tie the game. Zach Osborne was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, and White's double off the Green Monster moved him to third. Benjamin followed by grounding a double down the left-field line to score a pair, and McMahon's RBI groundout knotted things up.

The teams will play a doubleheader at Fluor Field on Sunday afternoon. First pitch for game one is set for 2:00, with gates opening at 1:00. Both games will be seven innings. Greenville RH Teddy Stankiewicz (6-7, 4.52) will face off against Asheville RH Johendi Jiminian (11-4, 4.40) in the first game, while Greenville RH Jason Garcia (0-1, 10.80) opposes Asheville RH Zach Jemiola (7-8, 4.88) in the nightcap.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 19, 2014


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