Greenville, SC - Ricardo Cubillan's RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh gave the Greenville Drive the lead for good as they defeated the Kannapolis Intimidators 6-4 on Friday night at Fluor Field with 5,616 fans on hand.
Greenville, SC - Ricardo Cubillan's RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh gave the Greenville Drive the lead for good as they defeated the Kannapolis Intimidators 6-4 on Friday night at Fluor Field with 5,616 fans on hand.
With the score tied at three, Kervin Suarez dropped a bunt single just in front of home plate to begin the frame. Cubillan followed by grounding a triple into the right field corner to bring home Suarez and put the Drive (9-25) ahead. Samuel Miranda followed with a double off Cameron Seitzer (0-1) to make the score 5-3.
The Intimidators (22-12) didn't back down, as Tyler Frost led off the eighth with a solo homer to cut the Drive lead to one, but Jagger Rusconi delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom half for an insurance run.
Juan Florentino (3-0) picked up the win in relief, and Lukas Young nailed down the final five outs to record his second save.
The Drive jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first against former Greenville High standout John Parke. Lorenzo Cedrola drew a leadoff walk and came in when Marino Campana smoked a triple to the triangle in center field. Victor Acosta followed with a sacrifice fly to center to plate Campana.
A two-out Drive error in the second extended the inning for Carlos Perez, who delivered a two-run single to center to tie the game just prior to an hourlong rain delay.
That was the only blemish against Greenville starter Denyi Reyes, who returned after the delay and retired 10 of his final 11 hitters. Reyes allowed two unearned runs in five innings with five strikeouts to lower his season ERA to 2.72.
Rusconi extended his hitting streak to six games by belting a solo homer to right field with two outs in the fourth. The home run was his first of the season.
Kannapolis answered with a solo homer of their own by Craig Dedelow in the sixth that tied the game up at three.
Suarez and Zach Sterry notched two hits apiece for Greenville.
The Drive will hit the road on Saturday to begin a four-game series against the Lexington Legends, an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. First pitch is set for 6:35 PM in Lexington. Right-hander Nick Duron (0-4, 7.71) takes the mound in the opener for the Drive.
~Greenville Drive~
