Greenville's Defense Struggles, Lose 7-5

Published on July 24, 2022 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release

Greenville, SC - In game three, the Greenville Drive (8-14) came in today looking to win the series but fell short to The Aberdeen IronBirds (13-11) in a 7-5 loss.

Greenville's Chih-Jung Liu tossed for 2.2 innings but gave up four hits and three runs on his way to suffering the loss. Aberdeen's Peter Van Loon gave up more hits than Liu (five) but took the win thanks to his team's offensive efforts.

Both offenses showed up early in this afternoon's game. Aberdeen was first on the board when Toby Welk doubled on a fly ball allowing Heston Kjerstad to score.

The Drive responded in the same way with a Nathan Hickey double that brought Matthew Lugo home.

During the third inning, a rain cloud hovered over Fluor Field and brought Aberdeen some runs with it. Kjerstad crossed the dish thanks to a throwing error from Brandon Howlett and John Rhodes scored off the bat of TT Bowen.

The Drive didn't back down and neither did Philip Sikes whose 2-run homerun tied the game.

Matthew Lugo also brought the heat in the fifth inning by hitting his 11th home run of the season and put the Drive on top.

Aberdeen made a comeback in the sixth inning, and it started with Ryan Higgins' RBI. Collin Burns then stepped up to the plate and hit one out of the park and brought Higgins home with him.

The Drive chipped away at the IronBirds' lead in the seventh. Rickey Ramirez took the mound for Aberdeen and gave up a hit to Lugo. He also walked three batters in a row to allow Greenville a run.

The eighth inning was scoreless, but the opposing team added one insurance run in the ninth thanks to a homerun from Rhodes.

The Greenville Drive will stay home and take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods for a six-game homestand starting Tuesday with first pitch slated for 7:05.

South Atlantic League Stories from July 24, 2022

• Manzardo Drives in Four to Complete Sweep of Tourists - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Greenville's Defense Struggles, Lose 7-5 - Greenville Drive
• Baserunning Blunders, Walks Do in the Tourists - Asheville Tourists
• Offense Goes off for 16 Runs as Blue Rocks Take Series Finale against Renegades - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Renegades Allow 16 Runs in Defeat - Hudson Valley Renegades
• Winston-Salem Dropped by Rome 3-2 - Winston-Salem Dash
• How Sweep It Is: BKLYN Completes Sweep of BlueClaws on Sunday - Brooklyn Cyclones
• Cyclones Hold on for 6-4 Win; Series Sweep of BlueClaws - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• HVR Game Notes - July 24, 2022 - Hudson Valley Renegades
• Endy Rodriguez Hits 2 of Hoppers 4 HRs in Win - Greensboro Grasshoppers

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