SAL Greenville Drive

Grasshoppers Get to Drive Pitching Early, Drop Drive 16-6

April 21, 2023 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


Despite six runs on ten hits tonight, the Greenville Drive (4-7) could not keep Greensboro Grasshoppers' (9-3) hitters at bay; never cutting the deficit to less than five runs all night.

The Grasshoppers battered Driver starter Wikelman Gonzalez early, rattling off a six-run first inning. A single, steal, walk, double steal, single, walk, passed ball, and single in succession brought in the first three runs of the game, to give the Grasshoppers a 2-0 lead with no outs and the bases loaded.

Gonzalez seemed to right the ship, fanning the next two batters on strikes. But a wild pitch, scored one and an ensuing double would make it 5-0 and end Gonzalez's night.

Joe Jones came on in relief, giving a single to make it 6-0 before striking out the batter who started the inning, Tsung-Che Cheng to hold the damage to just the six runs.

The Drive threatened to get back into the game in the third, as the bases were loaded for Marcelo Mayer, who collected his second single of the game, this time with an RBI to make it 6-1.

With the bases still loaded Blaze Jordan struck out swinging and Miguel Ugueto hit a hard grounder to the shortstop who nabbed Mayer at second on a fielder's choice on a bang-bang call.

Jones would exit after two and a third innings, allowing three hits, one run and gathering two strikeouts and no walks, keeping the game in check.

Graham Hoffman came on in relief in the fourth, struggling early as he walked three batters in a row and throwing a wild pitch that scored one to make it 7-1. Jase Bowen sent a single into left field scoring two to make 9-1. A walk and wild pitch to the next batter would end Hoffman's night, bringing in Casey Cobb.

Cobb gave up a single to the ensuing batter making it 10-1 Grasshoppers before striking out the rest of the batters he faced to send it to the fifth inning.

Jonathan Davis would score on a fifth-inning balk by Greensboro reliever Bubba Chandler making it 10-2 before the game flipped to the bottom of the inning. With two outs in the fifth, back-to-back singles aided by a steal 'Hoppers would make it 11-2.

The Drive would try and mount a charge in the sixth inning as with men on second and third, Gilberto Jimenez doubled to center scoring Miguel Ugueto setting up Jonathan Diaz to send his first homer of the year to right center, making it 11-6.

The momentum would not last into the bottom of the sixth as reliever Joey Stock struggled giving up back-to-back walks, a single and double, bringing in two runs to make 13-6.

The Drive could not mount any charge in the seventh nor would the Grasshoppers as Drive relievers Aaron Perry kept the Grasshoppers from adding to the lead. After a Nick Decker single to lead off the eighth, the Drive batters went down in succession. Jaret Godman came on in relief in the bottom of the eighth struggling as well, giving up three runs on five hits to make it 16-6 in favor of Greensboro. Grasshoppers reliever Drew Irvine would shut the door on the Drive in the ninth.

Three Drive batters were a bright spot in the loss, as Mayer chipped in a 2-for-3 night, Diaz a 2-for-3 debut with a homer run, and Jimenez a 2-for-4 performance.

The Drive (Boston Red Sox) and Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh Pirates) are back in action at First National Bank Field on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The series between the two teams favors Greensboro, 2-1. The Drive return to Fluor Field on April 25 to face the Hudson Valley Renegades (New York Yankees).

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from April 21, 2023


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