Greenville Drives Past BlueClaws 8-1

Published on July 28, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release

GREENVILLE, SC - The Greenville Drive road past the Lakewood BlueClaws for the first time in a three game series by the score of 8-1 on Tuesday afternoon. The BlueClaws are 20-games above .500 overall but fall now to 9-11 on day games this season.

BlueClaws (18-14) starter Freddy Ballestas ran into a lot of trouble early on and it lasted throughout his start. In the bottom of the first, Ballestas allowed three runs, capped off by a two-run single by Jered Stanley and the Drive took a 3-0 lead.

The lead would balloon to seven by the sixth inning as both Ryan Lavarnway and Will Middlebrooks hit home runs off Ballestas and Middlebrooks added another off of Eryk McConnell. In all, Ballestas (1-2) lasted just five innings and allowed seven hits and five earned runs in the loss.

In a 4-0 game, the BlueClaws got their lone run off the bat of Travis Mattair, who batted in Jim Murphy on an RBI-groundout.

The Drive's (14-17) starter Brock Huntzinger (5-8) broke a five-game losing streak with a win and worked well over five innings of work. Huntzinger allowed just four hits and an unearned run while striking out eight and he did not allow a walk.

With the loss, the BlueClaws are now 5-2 on their road trip and hold a two games to one advantage against the Drive.

The BlueClaws and Drive will conclude their four-game series on Wednesday at 7:00 pm. For the BlueClaws, they will send their best pitcher in the second half, Jesus Sanchez (7-5) to the mound. He will be opposed by righty Caleb Clay (4-4). After this game, the BlueClaws will make the 11-hour trip back to the Jersey Shore to begin a homestand on Friday.

South Atlantic League Stories from July 28, 2009

• Suns Hang on to Beat Legends - Hagerstown Suns
• Hot Rods Can't Close Down Captains in 5-4 Loss - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Home Runs by Hagerstown Lead to 6-2 Win over Legends - Hagerstown Suns
• Tuesday Night's Game Suspended Due to Rain - Hickory Crawdads
• West Virginia Powers Past Charleston, 4-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
• Owens and Leach Toss One-Hitter - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Late Slam Sinks Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• GreenJackets Lead 4-1, Suspended in 4th - Augusta GreenJackets
• BlueClaws Closing in on 4-Million Fans - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Tourists and Shorebirds Washed Out - Asheville Tourists
• Drive Cruise, 8-1, Behind Middlebrooks and Huntzinger - Greenville Drive
• Greenville Drives Past BlueClaws 8-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Paisano promoted, Podraza rejoins 'Dads - Hickory Crawdads
• RiverDogs Ring in August with 4-Game Weekend Series - Charleston RiverDogs
• Sand Gnats' Offense Paces Win In Game Two - Greensboro Grasshoppers

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