SAL1 Greenville Drive

Late rally dooms Drive, lose 5-4

Published on July 17, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Rome, GA - A day after the Greenville Drive extended their winning streak to a season-high five games, that streak was snapped Monday night with a 5-4 loss to the Rome Braves at State Municipal Stadium. The Drive led 4-1, however the Braves struck for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to overtake the lead for good. With the loss, the Drive fell to 16-9 in the second half of the season, 3.0 games behind first place Augusta.

The Drive jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the third. Matt Mercurio led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on a single by Mitch Stachowsky. Christian Lara then continued his hot hitting with an RBI double to left-center, scoring Mercurio. Mickey Hall then followed with a double of his own, knocking in both Stachowsky and Lara.

Rome began its comeback with a run in the bottom of the fourth off of knuckleballer John Barnes. Robert Marcial and Jamie Romak started off the inning with back-to-back doubles with Romak plating Marcial for the Braves first run of the game. Barnes then settled down and retired the side without allowing another run.

In the top of the fifth, the Drive added another run to extend their lead to 4-1. With two outs, Dominic Ramos walked and then Yahmed Yema reached on an error. Mark Wagner picked up his 41st RBI of the season with a single to center, plating Ramos.

After tossing a season-high 6.0 innings, Barnes gave way to southpaw Tim Cox (3-5) at the start of the bottom of the seventh, and that's where the trouble began. The Braves tagged the usually reliable lefty for four runs on five hits to take a lead they would not relinquish. Rome got RBIs from Easley, SC native Quentin Davis, as well as Marcial, Romak, and Max Ramirez giving the Braves a 5-4 lead.

Greenville could not bounce back from the shock, mustering only one hit in the final two innings versus the Rome relievers. Tyler Bullock (6-4) tossed 3.0 scoreless innings to pickup the win, while Brad Nelson threw a perfect ninth inning to earn his fifth save of the season.

The Drive and Braves conclude their four-game series tomorrow evening with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Greenville will send left-hander Michael Rozier to the mound as Rome counters with right-hander Phil Stockman.

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.

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.

NOTES: The four earned runs that Tim Cox allowed in the seventh were the first earned runs the left-hander had allowed in his last 20.1 innings...Mitch Stachowsky and Christian Lara led the Drive with two hits apiece...Mickey Hall collected two RBI

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 17, 2006


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