Drive Defeat Sand Gnats 6-5
Greenville, SC - Sometimes it only takes one good inning to win a game, and the Greenville Drive (20-41, 54-76) put that into practice on Friday night as they defeated the Savannah Sand Gnats (38-23, 82-45) 6-5 in the series opener at Fluor Field.
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the Drive offense exploded for four runs against Savannah starter Robert Gsellman (9-6), who entered the game leading the league with a 2.34 ERA. Back-to-back singles by Danny Bethea and Franklin Guzman began the inning, and after a two-out walk loaded the bases, Cole Sturgeon lined a two-run single to center to tie the game. A wild pitch gave the Drive the lead, and Tzu-Wei Lin then singled to right to extend the lead to 6-4.
The Drive bullpen would make that lead stand, as Raynel Velette (7-3) allowed just one unearned run in three and one-third innings to earn the victory, and Mike Adams struck out three in the final two and two-thirds to record his fourth save.
The Sand Gnats took a 1-0 lead in the first when Matt Oberste lined a double to center off Jamie Callahan to score Yeixon Ruiz, who walked. The Drive answered in the bottom half on three consecutive singles to begin the frame, with the third, a Wendell Rijo infield single, scoring Sturgeon.
Jorge Rivero began the second inning with a solo blast to left field to give Savannah the lead back, and they scored twice more in the third on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly by Colton Plaia.
Lin hit a sacrifice fly of his own in the third to cut the Sand Gnats to 4-2.
Savannah scored in the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice by Champ Stuart.
Sturgeon had a huge night for Greenville, going 3-4 with two runs, two RBI and three stolen bases. Lin chipped in with two hits and two RBI. Rivero, Stuart and Patrick Biondi all collected two hits for Savannah.
The series continues on Saturday night at Fluor Field at 7:05. RH Teddy Stankiewicz (9-8, 3.89) will take the mound for the Drive, and the Sand Gnats will counter with RH Ricky Knapp (7-6, 4.02).