SAL1 Greenville Drive

Greenville drives past Rome, 6-4

Published on July 18, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Rome, GA - The Greenville Drive closed out their four-game series with the Rome Braves Tuesday night with a 6-4 victory at State Municipal Stadium to take three games in the series. With the win, the Drive improved to 17-9 in the second half and remain three games behind first place Augusta.

In the top of the second, the Drive took an early lead with a run off Braves reliever Beau Jones, who replaced Phil Stockman making his final MLB rehab start. Tony Granadillo reached base with a leadoff walk and with one-out Logan Sorensen singled up the middle. Jones then issued back-to-back two out walks to Mickey Hall and Dominic Ramos, allowing Granadillo to score.

The Drive extended their lead to 3-0 with two more runs in the top of the fifth. Mark Wagner led off with a walk and after a Luis Soto single, scored on Chris Turner's double to left-center. Soto, who advanced to third on the hit, later scored on a wild pitch from Jones.

Unfortunately the lead would not hold as the Braves answered for three runs, two of which were unearned, in the bottom of the fifth off starter Michael Rozier to tie the game at 3-3. A one-out error by Ramos allowed Jordan Schafer to reach base, and Derrick Arnold tripled him home. Ovandy Suero followed with an RBI-single, however an error on Turner allowed the speedy leftfielder to advanced three bases and tie the game.

Two innings later Greenville regained their lead with two runs. Granadillo and Turner led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Sorensen picked up an RBI with a single, plating Granadillo. Turner then scored on Christian Lara's groundout.

The Braves would make an effort to rally back cutting the lead to one with a run in the bottom of the seventh off Hunter Jones. Robert Marcial singled with one out and scored two batters later as Max Ramirez doubled to right field.

Greenville closed out the scoring with a run in the top of the ninth to solidify the win. Luis Soto led off the inning with a solo homer to left, his fourth long ball of the season.

Jason Blackey, who tossed a shutout eighth inning, threw a perfect ninth inning en route to picking up his third save of the season. Jones, who pitched two innings in relief, earned the victory and improved his record to 2-5.

The Drive return home Wednesday, July 19th for a four-game series with the Savannah Sand Gnats, South Atlantic League affiliate of the Washington Nationals. First pitch is set for 5:05 PM with right-hander Clay Buchholz toeing the rubber for the Drive as the Sand Gnats counter with right-hander Craig Stammen.

Tickets to all Drive home games can be purchased by calling the Drive Ticket Office at 864-240-4528 or online at www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 18, 2006


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