Shorebirds Fly Past Drive, 9-4

August 20, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release

Salisbury, MD - The Greenville Drive were done in by the big inning in Thursday's series opener against the Delmarva Shorebirds, who scored six times in the fourth and cruised to a 9-4 victory.

Trailing 3-1 entering the fourth, the big inning for the Shorebirds (27-26, 60-61) began with back-to-back singles by Logan Uxa and Cameron Kneeland off Jeffry Fernandez (3-9). A passed ball cut the lead to one, and Riley Palmer's RBI double knotted things up. Steel Russell's sac fly put Delmarva ahead for good, and an RBI single by Ronarsy Ledesma and a two-run single by T.J. Olesczuk capped the frame.

Shorebirds leadoff man Ademar Rifaela put the team ahead 1-0 when he smacked a pitch from Fernandez over the wall in right for a solo homer.

The Drive (24-29, 62-61) scored three times in the third to take their only lead of the night. Hector Lorenzana and Yoan Moncada singled to begin the inning, and after Moncada swiped his 40th base of the year, Rafael Devers lined a two-run single to right. After singles by Andrew Benintendi and Nick Longhi loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly by Javier Guerra plated the third run.

A sacrifice fly by Benintendi in the top of the seventh scored Bryan Hudson for the Drive's final run of the evening, and a two-run single by Jomar Reyes tacked on two additional runs for the Shorebirds in the bottom half.

Mike Burke (1-2) threw three hitless innings of relief to get the win for Delmarva. Rifaela set the table with three hits and three runs.

Greenville's offense was led by Longhi, who reached base three times with two hits and a walk, and Joseph Monge, who added two hits. In his debut with the team, Taylor Nunez didn't allow an earned run over three and one-third innings of relief.

Game two of the four-game series begins at 7:05 PM on Friday night in Salisbury. LH Dedgar Jimenez (6-9, 4.57) takes the ball for the Drive, while the Shorebirds starter is TBD.

South Atlantic League Stories from August 20, 2015

• Helmis Rodriguez Flirts with No-Hitter; Sends Tourists to Victory - Asheville Tourists
• Savannah Streak Turns Sweet Sixteen - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Tourists Win in Extra Innings, 3-1 - Rome Emperors
• Delmarva Speeds Past Drive, 9-4 - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Morris, Riga Work Spotless Relief in Loss to Gnats - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• R'Dogs Keep Rolling with 5-1 Win over Augusta - Charleston RiverDogs
• Power Slips to Lakewood 6-4 - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Shorebirds Fly Past Drive, 9-4 - Greenville Drive
• Grullon HR Keys Comeback in 6-4 Win at West Virginia - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• 'Dads to Host Bases & Brews on September 12 - Hickory Crawdads
• Legends Rained out in Hagerstown - Lexington Legends
• Suns and Legends Game Postponed - Hagerstown Suns
• WV Power Game Notes: August 20, 2015 vs. Lakewood - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Another Shutout Win Caps Homestand on a High Note - Asheville Tourists
• Shorebirds Slow out of Gates, Fall 6-1 - Delmarva Shorebirds

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