SAL1 Greenville Drive

Lin's Walk-Off Blast Defeats Tourists, 12-10

Published on June 29, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - Che-Hsuan Lin played the role of hero in the ninth inning Sunday night, when he more than likely should not have had to. With the Drive trailing 12-10 with one out, the Taiwanese product capped his career day with a three-run, walk-off homer.

It did not take Lin long to see a pitch he liked from reliever Craig Baker (4-3), who had just entered the ballgame. The centerfielder locked in on a first pitch fastball, driving it over the left-centerfield wall to finish the game 4-for-6 with a franchise-tying six RBI.

Leading by as many as eight runs, the Drive (46-35, 6-5) saw their advantage dwindle as starter Jose Capellan turned the game over to the bullpen. The Tourists scored a pair off Kyle Fernandes in the seventh, before tagging Javier Garcia and Kyle Foster (2-0) for eight runs in the final two innings.

In the eighth the Tourists (50-31, 4-7) collected five runs as Warren Schaeffer drove in one with a double, Lars Davis plated a pair with a single, and Everth Cabrera belted a two-run homer off Garcia. The ninth did not fare any better for Foster as Asheville sent eight batters to the plate, en route to tallying three runs, obtaining their first lead since the end of the top of the first.

Asheville used six base hits in the frame, five of which were singles, as David Christensen, Schaeffer and Davis each recorded run-scoring hits.

After allowing the Tourists to score a run in their first at bat, the Drive answered with six unearned runs in the bottom of the first. Sending 11 batters to the plate, Greenville needed just three hits as Asheville starter Sheng-An Kuo issued four walks in just 2/3 of an inning.

The flood gates opened as Kristopher Negron reached on a fielding error and eventually scored on a wild pitch for the Drive's first run. Greenville's next five runs all came with two outs as David Mailman singled home two, Oscar Tejeda knocked in one with a single, and Lin began his hot-heating with a two-run double.

With four runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Drive mounted a lead which appeared to be enough. Lin and Yamaico Navarro each collected an RBI while Mike Jones singled home two more off Matthew Reynolds.

The Drive and Tourists continue their three-game series Monday evening with first pitch from Fluor Field set for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Terumasa Matsuo will toe the rubber for Greenville as Asheville counters with right-hander Robinson Fabian.

The Drive are holding an All-American Fest during the current seven-game homestand which runs through Saturday, July 5th. For more information regarding single-game tickets, ticket plans, group outings and luxury accommodations, visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

NOTES: The Drive have won the last five meetings with the Tourists...The two teams combined to use 10 pitchers - 6 by Asheville and 4 by Greenville...Attendance was 4434

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 29, 2008


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