Bonaci, Rosario solid as Drive fall 5-3 to Dash
Despite solid performances from Greenville Drive (13-17) newcomers, Brainer Bonaci and Ronald Rosario, the Drive couldn’t muster another come-from-behind victory, as they fell to the Winston-Salem Dash (21-8) on Friday night, 5-3. Bonaci and Rosario both recorded two hits a piece for the Drive, each chipping in a two-bagger. Bonaci
Despite solid performances from Greenville Drive (13-17) newcomers, Brainer Bonaci and Ronald Rosario, the Drive couldn’t muster another come-from-behind victory, as they fell to the Winston-Salem Dash (21-8) on Friday night, 5-3. Bonaci and Rosario both recorded two hits a piece for the Drive, each chipping in a two-bagger. Bonaci accounted for all three of the Drive’s RBIs while Rosario accounted for two of the Drive’s three runs.
For the second consecutive night a Winston-Salem starting pitcher held the Drive hitless through a solid chunk of the game; this time it was Dash starter Jonathan Cannon who cruised through the first four innings before relinquishing a double to Miguel Ugueto with two outs in the fifth.
While Cannon found his groove on the mound, the Dash offense found their stride in the third. With two-outs DJ Gladney hit his ninth homer of the year to make it 1-0 before a an RBI single by Wes Kath made it 2-0 nothing at the close of the third.
Despite the lack of team offense, Drive starter Isaac Coffey was solid, tossing five innings while allowing just three runs on seven hits while fanning six and relinquishing a solitary walk.
The Dash picked up another run in the fourth and two more in the sixth, this time off reliever Maceo Campbell, opening up a 5-0 lead. Campbell would finish his night throwing the lone inning, allowing two runs on one hit while issuing two walks.
But as with previous nights when it looked like the Drive might fall further behind, they received timely hitting from Bonaci as they tried to claw their way back in. Rosario smacked a double in the sixth followed by a sharp single from Eddinson Paulino moving Rosario to third. Bonaci sliced a double to bring home Rosario cutting the lead to 5-1.
Drive reliever Graham Hoffman took over for Campbell tossing two strong innings, allowing just one hit while collecting a strikeout across the six batters he faced.
Later in the eighth with Rosario and Kier Meredith on second and third respectively, Bonaci sent grounder right back up the middle plating both runners to bring the game within two runs. Bonaci would finish the night 2-for-4 with a double and all three RBIs for the Drive.
Nathan Landry, making his Fluor Field debut, struckout the side in the top of the ninth but his, Rosario’s, and Bonaci’s efforts wouldn’t sustatin the Drive as Greenville batters went down in order in the ninth, preserving a 5-3 Dash victory.
The Drive (Boston Red Sox) and Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox) return to action tomorrow, May 13 at 7:05 p.m. for game five of the six-game series at Fluor Field. Both teams will take part in the Copa de la Diversion initiative as the Drive become the Ranas de Rio and the Dash become the Salsa. The Dash currently hold 3-1 lead in the series.