Light Dominates in Drive's 8-2 Victory

Right-hander strikes out 10 in 6 innings

By Cameron White

April 5, 2014

Kannapolis, NC-A solid outing from the starting pitcher plus an offensive outburst typically leads to victory. The Greenville Drive (2-1) made that formula work on Saturday, with a dominant start from Pat Light and a six-run third inning leading the team to an 8-2 win over the Kannapolis Intimidators (1-2).

After a 2013 campaign marred by a hamstring injury, Light (1-0) was nothing short of outstanding in his first start of 2014. He allowed just one run and four hits in six innings while punching out 10 Kannapolis batters and not issuing a walk.

Already leading 2-1 in the top of the third, the Drive put the game out of reach with a six-run inning. Jantzen Witte and Kevin Mager led off the frame with back-to-back singles against Robinson Leyer (0-1). Aaron King followed with an RBI double to right field, and Jimmy Rider's RBI single to left chased Leyer from the game. New pitcher Jose Brito quickly uncorked a wild pitch to score another run and make the score 5-1. The big inning continued with a two-run double by Zach Kapstein and a sacrifice fly by Tzu-Wei Lin.

The Drive got a run in the top of the first on a Witte sacrifice fly, and another run in the second when Carlos Asuaje laced an RBI triple to right field.

Kannapolis scored against Light in the second when Jacob Morris doubled to begin the frame and later scored on a single by Zach Voight. They also scored against Raynel Velette in the eighth after a leadoff triple by Adam Engel and a Cleuluis Rondon sacrifice fly.

Things got interesting in the bottom of the ninth when Drive reliever Jonathan Aro issued two walks and a single to begin the inning, but he responded by striking out the side to end the game.

Asuaje, Kapstein, Lin, Rider and Jake Romanski collected two hits apiece for Greenville. Jeremy Dowdy and Voight each picked up a pair of hits for Kannapolis.

The series finale in Kannapolis begins at 5:05 PM on Sunday. RHP Teddy Stankiewicz will make the start for the Drive, while the Intimidators will counter with LHP Sean Bierman.