SAL1 Greenville Drive

Greenville Cuts Power On West Virginia, 5-4

Published on July 2, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - The Drive found themselves in a situation they wished they weren't in Monday night at West End Field. Leading 4-0 for the majority of the game, Greenville couldn't hang on and found themselves heading into extra innings with the league's best offense.

Fortunately, West Virginia committed two key defensive miscues in the bottom of the 10th, allowing the Drive to walk away with a 5-4 victory to split the four-game set. Jason Place led off the frame with his only hit of the game and advanced to second on Kristopher Negron's sacrifice bunt.

After a failed pickoff attempt by Omar Aguilar (7-2) allowed Place to move within 90 feet of home, he scored the winning run as Argenis Diaz followed by reaching base on a fielding error.

The Drive jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, scoring two runs apiece in the first and second innings. In the first, Lars Anderson recorded an RBI with a groundout and Josh Reddick added an RBI-single. An inning later Anderson, who finished with three hits and three RBI, produced a two-run double off starter Brae Wright.

For the first five innings, Greenville starter Travis Beazley completely overmatched the usually hard-hitting Power offense, allowing one hit and striking out five. However, West Virginia's bats awoke in the sixth, cutting the lead to just one run.

Chuckie Caufield laced a one out RBI-double, placing runners on second and third when Beazley exited the game in favor of Bryce Cox. Kenny Holmberg, the first batter Cox faced, added another run with a sacrifice fly and Steve Chapman roped a running scoring double.

Closer Joshua Papelbon (5-4) entered the game in the top of the eighth and kept the Power at bay. The top of the ninth was a different story, however, as the submarine style pitcher was unable to convert his 12th save. Jimmy Mojica, who led off the inning with a single, scored from second two batters later as Taylor Green drilled a pinch-hit double.

The Drive will now hit the pavement for seven games, beginning in Greensboro on Tuesday night for the start of a four-game series with the Grasshoppers. Right-hander Chris Jones will toe the rubber for Greenville as Greensboro counters with southpaw Graham Taylor.

The Drive return home to West End Field on Wednesday, July 11th for a three-game series with the Kannapolis Intimidators. Tickets to all Drive home games can be purchased by visiting www.GreenvilleDrive.com, or by calling (864) 240-4500.

NOTES: SS Argenis Diaz went 3-for-6 with two runs scored...LF Matt Sheely extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single in the bottom of the eighth...Attendance was 5021

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 2, 2007


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