Drive Roll Past Legends, 6-1

Greenville, SC - Behind seven outstanding innings from Teddy Stankiewicz and a three-run homer from Kevin Mager, the Greenville Drive (24-43, 58-78) defeated the Lexington Legends (27-40, 56-81) 6-1 in Friday's series opener at Fluor Field. 

In his final start of the season, Stankiewicz (11-8) mowed down Legends hitters all game long, allowing just five hits and one run in his seven innings while striking out three and not issuing a walk. 

He concluded his 2014 campaign with six consecutive quality starts, an 8-2 record with a 1.99 ERA in 12 starts at Fluor Field, and he finished second in Drive franchise history with 11 wins and 140 1/3 innings pitched. He also issued two or fewer walks in 22 of his 25 starts.

With the Drive leading 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Legends reliever Todd Eaton issued one-out walks to Wendell Rijo and Sam Travis, and Mager followed by cranking a three-run blast over the Green Monster, his seventh homer of the year.

Single runs in the first and second gave the Drive a 2-0 lead against Cody Reed (3-9). Tzu-Wei Lin walked in the first, moved to second on a wild pitch and came in to score when Travis stroked an RBI triple to right-center. Jimmy Rider's two-out RBI single in the second plated Tim Roberson, who doubled with one out.

Lexington scored their only run against Stankiewicz in the third when Dex Kjerstad doubled, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Dominique Taylor's sacrifice fly.

The Drive added one final run in the eighth on a Lexington error.

Mager went 2-3 with the three-run homer to lead the Drive offense, and Mike Adams hurled a pair of scoreless innings to close out the game.

The series continues on Saturday night at Fluor Field at 7:05. LH Trey Ball (4-10, 4.98) will start for the Drive, and the Legends will send RH Pedro Fernandez (1-7, 4.89) to the hill.