Big Inning Sinks Drive in 10-7 Loss

Lakewood, NJ - On a night where the Greenville Drive offense got back in gear with seven runs, the Lakewood BlueClaws played the trump card, scoring seven runs in the fourth inning and defeating the Drive 10-7.

After loading the bases full of BlueClaws (6-16) in the fourth, Anderson Espinoza (1-2) hit a batter and walked a batter to bring home a pair of runs. The pitching change to Victor Diaz did not solve the dilemma, as Wilson Garcia immediately singled to plate two more runs, and Jose Pujols delivered the big blow with a three-run homer to left.

The Drive (10-12) did their damage in two innings, scoring three times in the third and four more times in the sixth. Chad De La Guerra singled home a run in the third, and a Lakewood error on the plate score another. Tate Matheny followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Drive a 3-1 lead at that time.

After a Josh Ockimey double leading off the sixth, Kyri Washington blasted a two-run homer, his sixth of the season. Later in the inning, De La Guerra continued his big afternoon by singling home two more runs. He led the Drive offense with three hits and three RBI, while Washington and Jeremy Rivera added two hits apiece.

Jacob Waguespack (2-0) got the win in relief for Lakewood.

The teams continue their series in Lakewood on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 PM. LH Logan Boyd (3-1, 3.32) takes the mound looking to get the Drive back on track, and RH Jose Taveras (0-1, 1.72) starts for the BlueClaws.