Drive Roll Over Intimidators, 13-2

Greenville, SC - Fluor Field hosted its first Friday Night Fireworks show of the season following the game. That came shortly after the Greenville Drive (5-3) offense put up a fireworks show of their own, pounding out 17 hits in a 13-2 victory over the Kannapolis Intimidators (4-5).

With the game tied at two in the bottom of the fourth, the Drive took the lead for good with four runs against Robinson Leyer (0-2). With the bases loaded and one out, Jimmy Rider lined a single to center field to bring home a run. Two batters later, Tzu-Wei Lin scorched a three-run double off the wall in center field to push the score to 6-2.

The Drive put up consecutive three-run innings in the fifth and sixth innings to pull away even further. After a one-out single by Kevin Mager in the fifth, Manuel Margot launched a two-run homer to left-center that made the score 8-2. Later in the frame, Rider picked up his second RBI single of the night.

In the sixth, Carlos Asuaje delivered the big blow with a three-run triple to left-center.

The offensive outburst overshadowed another terrific outing from Greenville starter Pat Light (2-0). He allowed five hits and two runs in six innings of work while striking out five, and he didn't issue a walk for the second consecutive start. Joe Gunkel worked three perfect innings with seven strikeouts to close out the game and earn his second save. Light and Gunkel combined to retire the final 19 Kannapolis hitters.

The Intimidators took a 1-0 lead on Carl Thomore's RBI single in the top of the second. The Drive answered back in the bottom half when Jantzen Witte doubled down the left-field line with two outs, and Margot scooted home all the way from first.

The two teams traded runs again in the third inning, as Danny Hayes lined an RBI single in the top half and a 6-4-3 double play brought home a Drive runner in the bottom half.

Jake Romanski lined an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh for the Drive's final run of the night.

Mager led the way at the plate for Greenville, going 4-4 and scoring three times. Asuaje, Lin, Margot, Rider and Witte all picked up two hits as well. 

Game three of the four-game series begins at 7:05 on Saturday night. RH Teddy Stankiewicz (0-1, 11.25) will take the ball for the Drive, and the Intimidators will send LH Sean Bierman (0-0, 6.75) to the hill.