SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Win Third In A Row

Published on May 15, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - In the first Businessperson Special of the season the Drive (14-24) showed up with their lumber in tact as they cruised to a 9-3 victory in the series finale with the Augusta GreenJackets (27-12). It was Greenville's third straight victory, tying a season-high.

Augusta jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but it would be their only lead of the ballgame. James Simmons hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Nestor Rojas.

It would be the only run that Drive starter Chris Jones allowed, as he rolled to his second victory of the season. The right-hander surrendered just four hits and two walks, while striking out a season-high six batters.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Drive got into a groove, plating single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and added four more in the sixth. In the fourth, Reid Engel extended his hitting streak to 10-games with an RBI-single, scoring Chih-Hsien Chiang. An inning later the Drive got three consecutive singles to lead off the frame before Jon Still hit a sacrifice fly to knock in Mickey Hall.

With four runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Drive pulled away from the former first place team. Zak Farkes scored the first run of the inning on a fielding error which opened up the flood gates. Manny Arambarris followed with an RBI-single and Jon Still later added two more runs with a single.

The GreenJackets provided a scare in the seventh with two runs to cut the Drive lead in half. However, Greenville retaliated with three additional runs in the bottom of the eighth. Hall collected a leadoff single to finish a perfect 2-for-2, and proceeded to steal second and third. He then scored on a fielder's choice for his third run of the game.

Joshua Papelbon tossed two scoreless innings in relief to earn his seventh save in as many opportunities this season, tying him for second in the South Atlantic League. He also extended his scoreless streak to 14.1 innings, spanning 11 appearances.

After an off day on Wednesday, the Drive will resume their eight game home stand Thursday, when they begin a four game set with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Right-hander Brian Steinocher will take the mound for Greenville. Tickets for all Drive home games can be purchased by visiting www.GreenvilleDrive.com or by calling (864) 240-4500.

NOTES: 3B Manny Arambarris, 1B Lars Anderson, LF Reid Engel, and RF Mickey Hall each had two hits to lead the Drive...The Drive totaled 45 hits in the four game series with the GreenJackets...It was the third four-game series of the season that the Drive won...Attendance was 3961

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 15, 2007


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