SAL Greenville Drive

Drive Use Early Innings to Down 'Hoppers, 8-4

Published on June 17, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


The Greenville Drive (35-27) donned their Black Spinners uniforms in homage and celebration of the Greenville Black Spinners Saturday night and quickly dispatched the Greensboro Grasshoppers (33-27) 8-4, thanks to six runs across the first two innings, as they received offense from up and down the lineup.

With the win tonight and subsequent loss by Winston-Salem, the Drive are back in first place in the South Atlantic League South Division and hold a half-game lead over the Dash.

Drive starter Wikelman Gonzalez pitched a solid five scoreless innings for the Drive picking up his fourth win of the year while newcomer Roman Anthony chipped in a two-RBI night that included a home run. Blaze Jordan would also add two RBIs while Bryan Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with an RBI.

The Drive wasted little time Saturday night, jumping on Greensboro's spot starter, Mitchell Miller from the start. Anthony led off with a walk, Max Ferguson moved him to third on a sharp single to right field, and Jordan notched his 45th RBI of the season with a sac-fly to left field to make it 1-0. Bryan Gonzalez smacked a single to get Ferguson to second before Ronald Rosario slashed a double to the right field corner scoring Ferguson to make it 2-0.

Eddinson Paulino kept the line moving with a groundout which plated Bryan Gonzalez to make it 3-0 before a Miguel Ugueto double off the Green Monster made it 4-0 as Rosario crossed the plate.

The Drive would continue the hit parade in the second inning, as Jordan's 19th double of the season caromed off the centerfield wall scoring Anthony. Bryan Gonzalez followed that up with his own RBI-double to left field scoring Jordan to make it 6-0.

Wikelman Gonzalez continued his streak of solid starts following some early season struggles. Perhaps, the marked improvement was noticeable Saturday when he loaded the bases with two outs in the third before he'd get a weak fly ball on the seventh pitch of the at-bat for the final out of the inning.

From there Wikelman Gonzalez cruised through the fourth and fifth, allowing just one more hit before being relieved after the fifth inning. He finished the night allowing two hits, no runs, three walks and pick up seven strikeouts.

The Drive added to the lead in the sixth inning as Roman Anthony sent his second homer of the series over the Green Monster to make it 7-0.

Nate Tellier worked the sixth and seventh innings for the Drive, allowing two hits and the first 'Hoppers run of the ball game on a Tres Gonzalez RBI-double, while picking up two strikeouts. Anthony would knock in his second RBI of the night in the bottom of inning, barreling up a single past the outstretched glove of the third baseman bringing in Miguel Ugueto from third.

Maceo Campbell came on in the eighth for the Drive and picked up two strikeouts before being relieved in the ninth after giving up a two-RBI triple to make it 8-3. Joey Stock would pick up for Campbell, giving up one final run before picking up the final three outs, giving the Drive an 8-4 victory.

The Drive (Boston Red Sox) return to action tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. at Fluor Field for the finale of the six-game series with the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh Pirates). The Drive currently hold a 3-2 series lead and can clinch the series with a victory tomorrow.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 17, 2023


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