SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Shut out Suns, 8-0

June 22, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


The Greenville Drive (1-2, 23-49) used a complete performance to snatch their first win of the second half on Saturday night. Good pitching plus an 11-hit offensive attack equaled an 8-0 victory over the Hagerstown Suns (2-1, 40-30) at Fluor Field.

The Drive jumped out early, scoring three times in the bottom of the first against Hagerstown starter Pedro Encarnacion (5-4). A fielding error allowed the first run to come in, and Drew Turocy doubled high off the Green Monster in left field to bring home two more.

A huge two-out outburst in the second inning tacked on further to the Drive lead. Mookie Betts, Jose Vinicio and David Chester hit back-to-back singles with two down, and Mario Martinez followed by crushing a ball over the left-field foul pole and onto the roof of the condos for a grand slam.

The early offense provided more than enough support for the Drive pitching staff. Cody Kukuk (4-7) worked five hitless innings, working around seven walks, while striking out four to pick up the win. Kyle Kraus and JB Wendelken combined for four scoreless frames to preserve the shutout.

The Drive added a single run in the seventh, when Betts scored on Martinez's double play ground ball.

The top of the order was instrumental in the victory. The 1-2 punch of Betts and Vinicio each collected three hits for Greenville. Chester, hitting third in the lineup, added two hits of his own, while Martinez, the cleanup man, drove in four. Matt Foat picked up two hits for Hagerstown.

The series concludes on Sunday afternoon at Fluor Field, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 PM. RHP Jacob Dahlstrand (1-2, 4.62) will try to even the series for the Drive, and the Suns will send LHP Matt Purke (0-1, 4.00 ERA) to the mound.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from June 22, 2013


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