GreenJackets Cruise Past Drive, 11-3

Augusta, GA - Beginning a road trip couldn't cure the Greenville Drive's ills on Wednesday night, as the Augusta GreenJackets took an early lead and never looked back in an 11-3 victory in the series opener.

Four runs in the bottom of the first against Drive (12-14, 50-46) starter Jeffry Fernandez (3-8) gave the GreenJackets all the offense they would need. Following a Drive error that made the score 1-0, Jonah Arenado doubled home a run, and Chuckie Jones followed with a two-run homer to left field.

The Drive finally struck against Augusta starter Pat Young (7-1) in the fifth when an error on a Rafael Devers grounder scored Deiner Lopez, who singled to begin the inning.

Augusta countered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth when Greenville reliever Michael Gunn struggled with his control, issuing four walks, including one with the bases loaded. Arenado added a two-run single in the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Francisco Tellez cracked his third homer of the season, a two-run blast to right, to chase Young from the game.

The GreenJackets scored twice more in the sixth and seventh innings thanks to a two-run single by Aramis Garcia and a two-run homer from Andrew Cain.

Lopez collected three hits for the Drive, while Tellez had two hits, including the home run. Arenado, Cain, Jones and Johneshwy Fargas all picked up a pair of hits for Augusta.

The series rolls on at 7:05 PM on Thursday night in Augusta. RH Reed Reilly (4-3, 4.26) takes the mound looking to snap the Drive's four-game losing skid, and the GreenJackets will start RH Chris Johnson (1-2, 5.34).