Drive Blast Tourists, 12-2
Greenville, SC - The Greenville Drive put together a complete performance on Saturday night at Fluor Field, with four homers and outstanding pitching combining to help the Drive cruise past the Asheville Tourists 12-2.
With a 3-2 lead entering the sixth, the Drive (4-5, 41-37) exploded for seven runs on seven hits, knocking out Asheville starter Peter Lambert (3-6) in the process. Kyri Washington got the fun started with a one-out double to plate Luis Alexander Basabe, and Tate Matheny added a two-run single after a pitching change. Mitchell Gunsolus, Jeremy Rivera and Luis Alejandro Basabe added RBI singles in the frame.
Roniel Raudes (8-2) surely appreciated the support, but he was terrific on his own, holding the Tourists to two runs over six innings while allowing just three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Washington put the Drive on top 2-0 in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer to right-center, his team-leading 12th blast of the season.
The Tourists (6-4, 40-39) tied the game in the fourth when Brian Mundell cracked a two-run homer of his own over the Green Monster.
That lead didn't last long, as Michael Chavis crushed a solo homer to center with one out in the bottom of the fourth to put the Drive ahead for good.
The Drive continued playing long ball in the eighth, as Gunsolus and Basabe each hit solo homers.
Basabe, Chavis, Gunsolus and Washington all collected two hits for Greenville on the night. Jeffry Fernandez hurled three scoreless innings to finish the game and picked up his second save of the year.
The series concludes on Sunday at Fluor Field with a special first pitch time of 6:05 PM for Military Appreciation Day. Left-hander Dedgar Jimenez (3-1, 4.68) takes the mound for the Drive, and the Tourists will counter with right-hander Jesus Tinoco (1-1, 4.03).