Almonte Silences Rome Bats in Drive's 3-1 Win
Rome, GA - With Jose Almonte leading the way, the Greenville Drive took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in a 3-1 silencing of the Rome Braves on Friday night and evened the series at one game apiece.
In his third start of the season, Almonte (1-1) worked six innings and allowed only two baserunners, both on walks, while striking out five.
The Drive (23-24) never trailed on Friday, taking a 1-0 lead in the third against Mike Soroka (1-5). Luis Alejandro Basabe doubled to begin the frame, and Kyri Washington drove him in later in the frame with a sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, Tate Matheny hit a one-out single to score Chad De La Guerra, who walked to begin the frame, for another run, and Josh Ockimey followed with a double to left to make the score 3-0.
The Braves (19-29) got in the hit column in the seventh on a one-out double by Carlos Castro, and they got on the board when Alejandro Salazar hit an RBI single to plate Castro.
Bobby Poyner recorded a perfect ninth inning to log his 10th save of the season, lowering his ERA to 0.38 in 15 appearances.
Matheny picked up two hits and an RBI for the Drive on the night.
Saturday's game between the two teams in Rome is scheduled for a 6:00 PM start. Right-hander Roniel Raudes (5-1, 2.61) takes the mound for the Drive, and the Braves starter is right-hander Patrick Weigel (2-3, 3.04).