SAL Greenville Drive

Drive Shut Out Tourists 8-0 Behind Gonzalez's Strong Performance

Published on June 30, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


Wikelman Gonzalez continued his stellar play from the mound as of late, spinning 5.2 scoreless-innings Friday night in Asheville, allowing a lone hit while ringing up 10 for the second straight start as the Greenville Drive (40-32) shutout the Asheville Tourists (26-41), 8-0.

Gonzalez picked up his sixth win of the year - his fourth in his last five starts - tying him at the top of the South Atlantic League wins leaderboard. His 10 strikeouts also put him just three strikeouts shy of the 100-mark on the year and increased his lead on the SAL strikeout leaderboard.

The Drive struck first Friday night in the top of the first as the Tourists tried to nab Brainer Bonaci on a steal attempt with Eddinson Paulino on third. Paulino broke for home with the throw to second and the ensuing throw from the shortstop Tommy Sacco Jr., to try and nab Paulino at the plate would be late and errant, allowing Paulino to score and Bonaci to reach third. Paulino would officially be credited with the steal of home putting the Drive up 1-0.

With Gonzalez dealing, the Drive built on their lead in the fourth inning as Eduardo Lopez launched his third homer of the year to right centerfield giving the Drive a 2-0 lead. Karson Simas, batting leadoff for the Drive on Friday, reached on a walk in the top of the fifth before Bonaci homered to right centerfield to give the Drive a 4-0 lead.

Reliever Casey Cobb took over for Gonzalez with two outs in the sixth and promptly received a fly out to centerfield to end the inning. Tyler Miller launched the Drive's third and final homer of the night in the eighth after Bonaci and Bryan Gonzalez reached on a walk and a single. Alex Erro reached on a fielder's choice two batters later, but the ensuing throw from shortstop Sacco Jr. was errant again, allowing Lopez to score and give the Drive an 8-0 lead.

Cobb dealt the eighth before being relieved by Aaron Perry in the bottom of ninth. Cobb would finish the night 2.1 innings pitched, allowing just one hit while collecting two strikeouts. Perry issued one walk and struck out two and preserved the victory for the Drive in his lone inning of work. The 8-0 victory for the Drive marked their fifth-shutout victory of the year and third straight win after dropping five games in Bowling Green the week prior.

The Drive moved to 4-2 in the second half, just 2.5 games back of the second half SAL South leader, the Hickory Crawdads. The Drive have, however, clinched a playoff spot after winning the SAL South First Half. The win also marked the Drive's 40th win of the season, the first team in the SAL to reach 40 wins in 2023.

The Drive (Boston Red Sox) return to action tomorrow at historic McCormick Field for game four of the six-game series against the Asheville Tourists (Houston Astros) with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. The Drive lead the series, 3-0.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 30, 2023


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