
Rosario, Castro Knock Two-Run Homers as Drive Lock up Series over Hickory in 5-1 Win
July 27, 2024 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release
Ronald Rosario and Allan Castro powered two-run homers in the fourth and seventh respectively and Jedixson Paez and Noah Dean combined to strikeout 11 as the Greenville Drive (18-11, 44-51) downed the Hickory Crawdads (14-15, 42-53), 5-1 Saturday evening at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Hickory's Kohl Drake held the Drive hitless through 3 1/3 innings before Miguel Bleis knocked a ground-rule double. With two-away and Bleis on second, Rosario barreled up the third pitch of his at-bat over the left center field wall for a 2-0 lead.
Drake ultimately tossed six innings, allowing three runs on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Drake was pulled in the seventh after issuing a leadoff walk to Rosario. Castro promptly greeted reliever Gavin Collyer with his two-run blast over the right field wall to boost the Drive lead to 4-1.
Paez continued his strong play on the mound, allowing five hits but just one run in his five innings of work. The only blemish came on back-top-back hits for the Crawdads, as Yosy Galan singled with one away and Benjamin Blackwell doubled to cut the lead to 2-1. Paez finished with four strikeouts.
Dean, called up to Greenville earlier in the week after an impressive season for Single-A Salem, frustrated the Crawdads over the final four innings, picking up seven striekouts on the night. Dean struckout the first batter he faced on four pitches and issued a walk and a wild pitch to put a runner in scoring position with one out.
But Dean picked up a flyout before giving up a single to put runners on the corner before striking out Anthony Gutierrez to keep the lead at 2-1.
Dean retired all but one batter he faced over the last three innings, issuing a walk to Yeison Morrobel in the bottom of the ninth before picking up two strikeouts and a fly out to preserve the win.
Mikey Romero walked in the seventh to score Miguel Ugueto with the bases loaded, with two outs to round out the scoring at 5-1.
Cutter Coffey was traded during the game by the Boston Red Sox to the Toronto Blue Jays in a package that sent Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen to the Red Sox. Miguel Bleis started the game at DH for the Drive but was pulled after two at-bats in what some speculated was a trade. However, the plan was for Bleis to have two at-bats and split the day with newcomer Justin Riemer who joined the Drive after a rehab assignment in Salem.
The Drive return to action Saturday, July 28th at 2:00 p.m. for the finale of the six-game series with the Crawdads. The Drive hold a 4-1 series and have already clinched the series.
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from July 27, 2024
- Kinney Collects Four RBI, Hot Rods Sweep Doubleheader - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Tourists Score Three in the Ninth, Beat the 'Hoppers 5-3 - Asheville Tourists
- Birds Top Claws 10-5 on Saturday Night in ShoreTown - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Cyclones Bats Held in Check as Brooklyn Loses to Rome, 5-1, on Saturday - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Rosario, Castro Knock Two-Run Homers as Drive Lock up Series over Hickory in 5-1 Win - Greenville Drive
- Drake Delivers Quality Start in Loss - Hickory Crawdads
- Blue Rocks Keep Chugging Along in a Speedy Affair; Winning 2-1 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Renegades Edged Despite Schlittler's Start - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Renegades Game Notes - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Grasshoppers Drop to the Tourists, 6-4 on Friday Evening - Greensboro Grasshoppers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Greenville Drive Stories
- Greenville Drive and Asheville Tourists Team up for Ville vs. Ville Series to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- SoCon Baseball Tournament to Continue in Greenville
- Special Greenville Drive Day at the adidas Employee Store
- Greenville Drive Announce Amateur Baseball Schedule at Fluor Field
- Greenville Drive, West End Events Hiring for the 20th Anniversary Season

