Drive Stifled by Winston-Salem's Gowens as Greenville Drops Sunday Finale, 4-2
May 19, 2024 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release
Winston-Salem Dash (19-20) starter Riley Gowens dominated the Greenville Drive (17-22) in the series finale Sunday, spinning six hitless innings before allowing a single in the seventh. He'd ultimately ring up 11 Drive batters on the day on 95 pitches facing just 24 batters as the Dash defeated the Drive, 4-2.
Luis Ravelo and Castro accounted for the only Drive hits of the day while starter Connelly Early chipped in a solid five innings for Greenville that included two walks and five strikeouts with three hits and two runs given up.
After cruising through two innings, Ealy was finally cracked by the Dash as Winston-Salem scratched across two in the third. Samuel Zavala walked and Jordan Sprinkle doubled to put two in scoring position. Back-to-back groundouts from Weston Eberly and Lodel Chapelli were enough to give the early 2-0 lead.
The trio of Sprinkle, Eberly and Chapelli would combine to boost the lead to 3-0 as Sprinkle knocked his second double, Eberly moved Sprinkle over on a groundout and Chapelli added a sac-fly.
Gowens dominated six-innings on Sunday afternoon, whiffing the Drive for 11 strikeouts and allowing just two base runners via walks. He struck out four of the first seven batters before relinquishing a walk to Luis Ravelo in the third. He retired the next eleven batters before Campbell walked to lead off the seventh.
Zach Fogell relieved Early in the sixth spinning two hitless innings for the Drive while picking up three strikeouts. The Drive finally cracked Gowens in the bottom of the seventh as Allan Castro singled through the right side of the infield. The ensuing attempt to throw out Campbell would be wild allowing Campbell to score and add the Drive's first run. The error moved Castro to third before a Ronald Rosario chopping ground out allowed Castro to cut the lead to 3-2.
Cade Feeney took over in the eighth for Greenville put couldn't capitalize on the momentum. After two quick outs, Shawn Goosenberg rapped a double into the right field corner and Miguel Ugueto's mishandling of the ball allowed Goosenberg to reach third. A balk during the ensuing at-bat sent Goosenberg homer to boost the 4-2.
Feeney finished the day working two innings allowing just the Goosenberg hit and run with a walk and a strikeout.
The Drive would mount one more opportunity in the eighth as Ravelo slapped a double to left center field and Caden Rose reached after being hit by a pitch by reliever Ben Beutel to put two on with one out. But Mikey Romero and Kristian Campbell each flew out to end the comeback attempt.
Jared Kelly shut the door on the Drive in the ninth, allowing just a walk to Allan Castro before picking up the final three outs.
The Greenville Drive return to action Tuesday, May 21 in Greensboro, NC to take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers, affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates for a six-game series. First pitch on Tuesday is slated for 6:30 p.m.
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