Drive Win Both Games of Twin Bill; Take Series with Brooklyn
Published on June 10, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release
The Greenville Drive (32-24) used a mix of luck, a keen eye at the plate, stellar pitching, and patience to take both games of Saturday's doubleheader in Brooklyn against the Cyclones (23-32). The Drive dispatched the Cyclones in game one 9-2 before outlasting the Cyclones 2-1 in game two in extra innings. The game two win also positioned the Drive at the top of the South Atlantic League (SAL) South Division standings and tied them with Hudson Valley for the best record in the SAL.
Game 1 Recap: Drive 9, Cyclones 2
The Greenville Drive strung together nine runs on just five hits Saturday afternoon, including a one-hit seventh inning that produced six of the nine runs thanks to four walks and two errors by the Cyclones and the lone RBI-single. While the Drive benefitted from the good fortune, starter Wikelman Gonzalez dominated allowing just two runs on three hits, one walk, and striking out nine in 5.1 innings of work.
The Cyclones sprung first however on an RBI-double and RBI-single in the bottom of the first to open up a 2-0 lead. But the Drive have found a penchant for striking back quickly as of late as they chipped in a three run second inning to take the lead.
With the bases loaded, Alex Erro knocked an RBI-single through the middle of the infield to score Bryan Gonzalez and move all runners up ninety-feet. Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Nick Decker and Karson Simas (who made his Drive debut), gave the Drive a 3-2 lead.
After giving up two runs in the first, Wikelman Gonzalez settled in to the game dominating the Cyclones from the mound including giving up only one more hit over the next 4.1 innings. He'd strikeout the final five batters he faced before being relived by Joey Stock with one out in the sixth.
Stock continued the domination, allowing just one hit over the next 1.2 innings while picking up two strikeouts.
The Drive added six runs in the top of the seventh on four walks, two errors by the Cyclones, and a lone RBI-single. Erro, Decker, and Simas all walked before Cyclones pitcher Jace Beck struckout the next two batters. Blaze Jordan however would work the count full and layoff the payoff pitch to walk home Erro and boost the lead to 4-2. Bryan Gonzalez hit a chopper to the third baseman William Lugo whose throw couldn't be caught by D'Andre Smith as the ball sailed into right field allowing Decker and Simas to score boosting the lead to 6-2. During the ensuing at bat Tyler Miller would reach on a throwing error allowing another runner to cross before Miguel Ugueto slapped a two-RBI single off the left field wall to boost the lead to 9-2.
Stock closed the door in the bottom of the seventh for the Drive, securing the 9-2 victory.
Game 2 Recap: Drive 2, Cyclones 1 (F/8)
In the second half of the twin bill Saturday, the Drive received a stellar spot-start from Jordan DiValerio, a perfect three-inning relief effort from Graham Hoffman, and a gusty save attempt in extra innings from Brock Bell to outlast the Cyclones, 2-1 and secure their fourth series victory in a row. The game two win also positioned the Drive at the top of the South Atlantic League (SAL) South Division standings and tied them with Hudson Valley for the best record in the entire SAL.
Miller would give the Drive an early lead in game two thanks to an RBI-double that scored Paulino from second. They'd hold the 1-0 lead until the second inning as Drake Osborn sent his fourth homer of the year to left field, knotting the game at 1-1.
From there, the game would settle into a pitching duel as DiValerio sent down the next nine batters he faced while Cyclones starter picked up a 1-2-3 inning in the third and fifth as kept the Drive at bay.
DiValerio would finish the night tossing four innings, allow just one run on two hits and pick up four strikeouts without issuing a walk before being relieved by Hoffman at the start of the fifth. Hoffman turned in his best performance of the year, tossing three perfect innings while fanning three to send the game to extras deadlocked at 1-1.
Paulino started the inning on second as the ghost runner for the Drive before advancing to third on a balk by Cyclones pitcher, Joshua Cornielly. After Max Fergsuon popped out to third, Ronald Rosario delivered the ultimately game winning RBI-single for the Drive as his chopper over the heard of the shortstop allowed Paulino to score making it 2-1.
In the bottom of the eighth, Drive newcomer Bell took over for Hoffman allowing a single that put runners on the corners with nobody out. But Bell was gutsy, picking up a strikeout, a ground out, and one final strikeout to secure the Drive's 2-1 victory and pick up his first save of the year.
The Drive (Boston Red Sox) return to action tomorrow against the Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets) for the finals of the six-game series with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. The Drive's victory in game two secured the series, which currently stands at 4-1.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 10, 2023
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