SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Run Past Tourists, 14-8

Published on July 17, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The Greenville Drive (12-10, 50-42) were victorious against the visiting Asheville Tourists (13-8, 45-46) by a 14-8 in Friday's series opener at Fluor Field.

Asheville came out swinging when Roberto Ramos placed a double into center that scored two Tourists.

The Drive quickly retaliated, scoring four in the first. Yoan Moncada led off with a single, and would eventually score after the bases were loaded and Mike Meyers was hit with a pitch. This was followed up by another walk, which scored Rafael Devers. Nick Longhi scored during the next at bat when Danny Bethea walked. Greenville would go on to earn the next run when Joseph Monge singled into right, plating Guerra.

After a silent half-inning from the Tourists, the Drive plated more runs. Due to a wild pitch, Devers crossed the plate. Javier Guerra singled next, helping Nick cross the plate. Monge knocked in a run with his sac-fly, allowing Guerra to score for his second RBI on the night.

The Asheville Tourists fought back, scoring a few in the fourth. Yonathan Daza hit an RBI single into right, followed by a wild pitch during the next at bat which allowed Josh Fuentes to score. Max George followed up with a deep fly ball off the Monster in left, hitting his first triple of the year and knocking in a run as well. Omar Carrizales plated a run with his ground ball to short for the last run of the inning for the visitors.

Mike Meyers scored the only Drive run of the inning of the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of Bethea's sacrifice fly to center field.

Daza plated another run fifth for Asheville, grounding out to short, which allowed the runner on third to cross the plate.

The Drive would be given a boost in the bottom of the sixth when Meyers blasted a ball over the left-center field wall for his fifth homer of the season. Bethea knocked in another run later in the inning with an RBI double, and he scored on a fielding error by the Tourists' right fielder.

The Drive scored yet another run in the home-half of the eighth inning, due to a throwing error that allowed Guerra to score.

The Tourists attempted a late-game comeback, scoring on Ryan Stephens' RBI single, plating Ramos. The attempt would end with a line drive to Moncada, who threw to Guerra covering second, doubling up the runner on second.

The Drive were lead at the plate by Meyers, who homered and scored three times, Guerra, who went 2-3, scored four times, and also knocked in two runs, and Bethea, who went 2-2 with three RBI The visiting Asheville Tourists were led by Ramos, who went 3-4 with a double, scored twice, and had two RBI.

Greenville starter Reid Reilly lasted four innings, allowing nine hits, six runs (all of which were earned). Carlos Pinales came in behind him and got the win, only allowing one run over four innings in which he struck out two and allowed just one run. Michael Gunn threw 1.1 innings of work, allowing three hits and a run, but struck out three. Ryan Harris came in with one out, and ended the game on one pitch - a liner to Yoan Moncada which was caught and thrown to second to double up the runner at second base.

It was a rough night for Asheville's starter, Helmis Rodriguez. Rodriguez allowed five hits, eight runs (six earned), issued three walks, and hit four Drive batters, and lasted only 1.1 innings. James Lomangino stayed on the bump the longest, throwing 3.2 innings allowing three hits, but four runs on two walks and three strikeouts. Shane Halley finished the game, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on two hits, both of which were unearned runs.

The Greenville Drive face the Asheville Tourists again Saturday at Fluor Field. First pitch is at 7:05 PM.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 17, 2015


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