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SAL Greenville Drive

Drive Walk Past Tourists, 13-3

June 2, 2021 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, S.C. - Greenville exploded for five runs in the fourth inning while mashing 10 hits and drawing 13 walks on the night to trap the Tourists, 13-3, Wednesday night at Fluor Field.

Christian Koss, Tyler Dearden and Brandon Howlett-triple and double-each compiled two hits. Tyler Esplin and Howlett also drew three walks apiece. Dearden had a game-high five RBI while Kole Cottam drove in three on a three-run bomb. Tyreque Reed extended his RBI streak to six games with an RBI double in the fourth. During that streak he has registered 11 RBI. He leads all of High-A with 30 RBI.

Chase Shugart got the start and the win after tossing 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, one homer and no walks with five strikeouts. Brendan Nail pitched an inning in relief and fanned three of the four batters he faced.

Juan Pablo Lopez took the loss. He surrendered five runs over three-plus innings of work.

For the second-straight day, Asheville took an early lead. Two singles and a hit-by-pitch via the first three batters in the second inning loaded the bases. After a strikeout, Alex Holderbach hit a sac fly to right field for a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the inning Greenville took a 2-1 lead. With one out, Howlett lined a double to the right field corner. The next batter, Cottam, blasted a 408 ft. two-run homer to right-center field.

However, Ashville tied the game a half inning later on an Alex Mckenna solo shot to lead off the frame.

The game wasn't tied for long, as the Drive exploded for five runs. In the bottom of the fourth, Esplin drew a leadoff walk. Reed then did what he does best: drive in a runner. He squared up an outside pitch and drilled it past the first baseman for an RBI double. Howlett walked to put runners at first and second. They each advanced a bag on a stolen base. After a strikeout, Dearden grounded a ball that just stayed fair down the third base bag for a two-run double. Back-to-back walks by Devlin Granberg and Nick Sogard loaded the bases. Two batters later, Koss lined a two-run single to right to give the Drive a 7-2 lead.

Greenville added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Howlett got things started with a triple down the right field line. Cottam drew a walk to put runners on the corners. After a punchout, Granberg grounded a ball up the middle that was snagged by the second baseman who flipped to the shortstop for the force out and RBI.

In the sixth, the Drive plated two runs. Koss led off the frame with a single and got to second on a third Esplin walk. Two batters later, Howlett also drew a walk to load the bases. After a strikeout, Dearden walked with the bases loaded for an RBI. The second run came to score a few pitches later on a passed ball.

Asheville scored a run in the seventh on a Joe Perez RBI double.

Greenville responded with three unearned runs in the bottom half of the frame on a Cottam bases-loaded walk and Dearden's second two-run single of the night.

Game three against the Tourists is set for Wednesday at 7 pm at Fluor Field. The Drive are set to throw left-hander Jay Groome while Asheville is scheduled to throw right-hander Jose Bravo.

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