Drive Defeat IronBirds

The Greenville Drive (8-13) took the field as the Ranas de Rio for Copa de la Diversión Night and defeated first half North Division Champs Aberdeen IronBirds (12-11) 8-6. The series is now tied and will conclude tomorrow.

Greenville’s relief pitcher Joey Stock (2-1, 3.38) took the win after tossing 2 innings, while Aberdeen’s Daniel Loyd (0-2, 2.33) suffered the loss.

In a game where the bats were hot, the IronBirds got an early lead when Collin Burns came to bat and smacked the ball out to center field in the first inning.

The second inning was scoreless, but Aberdeen’s offense proved successful again in the third inning when Burns crossed the dish again on a sacrifice fly.

The Ranas de Rio responded with four runs to take the lead. The first run came from Tyler McDonigh taking advantage of his speed to score on a wild pitch. The highlight of the inning was Big Joe Davis’ three-run 395-foot homer that was stopped short by the Drive office building.

Aberdeen tied the game due to a John Rhodes two-run RBI, but Greenville’s newcomer Phillip Sikes took the lead back when he homered one to center field.

Unfortunately, a throwing error from Matthew Lugo allowed the opposing team to add two runs in the sixth and take the lead.

Lugo made up for his error by giving the Ranas de Rio the lead with his RBI single.

Greenville added one insurance run in the eighth off the bat of Antoni Flores to claim victory.

The Greenville Drive will finish the series against the Aberdeen IronBirds tomorrow at 3:05. Greenville’s right-hander Thad Ward will take the mound against Aberdeen’s righty Carlos Tavera.