Pitcher's Duel Favors Crawdads as Drive Fall 2-0
Published on July 16, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release
A pitcher's duel marked the afternoon in Hickory on Sunday as the Hickory Crawdads (14-3, 41-37) hung on to a 2-0 lead to down the Greenville Drive (9-9, 45-39) and take the short three-game series, 2-1.
Offense came at a premium as both starters cruised through the opposing lineups. Juan Daniel Encarnacion for the Drive ultimately spun five innings allowing just two runs on two hits while walking two and ringing up three. The Drive's offensive woes would be marked by a team total of 13 strikeouts which included two innings where Hickory struck out the side.
Hickory took the lead in the first inning as Tucker Mitchell grooved a 3-0 pitch over the right field wall with a runner on to make it 2-0. Mitchell's homer would ultimately be the only runs scored in the contest as neither team could figure out opposing pitching.
The Drive's best chances to score came in the first and eighth inning as Tyler Miller grounded out with a runner on second to end the inning in the first while Eduardo Lopez doubled to lead off the eighth. Karson Simas, Kier Meredith, and Roman Anthony all went down on strikes to end the eighth inning, keeping Hickory's lead intact.
Drive relievers also delivered stellar performances from the mound in Sunday's contest. Felix Cepeda, making his Drive debut, struck out the side in the sixth; Nate Tellier delivered a hitless seventh with a strikeout; and Alex Hoppe spun a hitless eighth while ringing up two.
The Drive would go down in succession in the ninth, giving the Crawdads the 2-0 victory.
The Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox) return to action Tuesday at Fluor Field at 7:05 p.m. for a six-game series against the Asheville Tourists (Houston Astros).
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