SAL Greenville Drive

Tourists' Grand Slam Sinks Drive, 7-5

July 1, 2023 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release


After trotting out to three early victories in Asheville this week, the Greenville Drive (4-3, 40-33) had the chance to notch a fourth Saturday but they relinquished a 3-1 lead in the sixth as the Asheville Tourists (1-6, 27-41) strung six runs together, ultimately downing the Drive 7-5 Saturday night.

For the fourth straight game the Drive opened the scoring in the first inning, this time taking a 1-0 lead on a Blaze Jordan RBI-single to score Eddinson Paulino from third. Brainer Bonaci added to the lead in the third on a groundout that was enough score Karson Simas from third.

Up 2-0, the Drive received another solid start from Angel Bastardo as he ultimately worked five innings. He'd allow just one run which came off an RBI-single in the bottom of the fourth while relinquishing five hits, picking up seven strikeouts and issuing two walks.

The Drive added to the lead in the fifth thanks to a Paulino double to the right field gap, scoring Alex Erro from second. But the 3-1 lead would be fleeting as reliever Graham Hoffman took over for Bastardo in the sixth. The Tourists jumped on Hoffman as Collin Price homered on a fly ball to left center field to cut the lead to one before the Tourists knotted the game on a Jordan throwing error. Hoffman would pick up his second out before being yanked form the game after he loaded the bases on a pitch that hit Logan Cerny.

Jordan DiValerio came on for Hoffman but his attempt to work out of the jam lasted three pitches as Ryan Clifford put Asheville up for good on a grand slam: giving the Tourists a 7-3 lead.

Greenville scratched across two more in the eighth inning on a two-RBI single from Tyler Miller. But the Drive couldn't muster up a comeback, falling 7-5 to Asheville.

The Drive (Boston Red Sox) return to action tomorrow at historic McCormick Field for game five of the six-game series against the Asheville Tourists (Houston Astros) with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. The Drive lead the series, 3-1.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from July 1, 2023


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