Raudes Spins Gem in Drive's 2-0 Win over Intimidators
Greenville, SC - Behind a gem of an outing from Roniel Raudes, the Greenville Drive shut out the Kannapolis Intimidators 2-0 in Thursday's series finale at Fluor Field.
The 18-year old Raudes (11-5) was in command from his first pitch to his 74th, as he blanked the Intimidators (29-24, 53-70) for seven innings in the longest start of his young professional career. He allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out four in leading the Drive (28-25, 65-57) to victory.
He was matched pitch-by-pitch by Kannapolis hurler Luis Martinez, who struck out nine Drive hitters over his five scoreless innings.
The Drive finally struck in the sixth against Intimidators reliever Dylan Barrow (3-2). Kyri Washington dropped a one-out single into right field, and he came all the way in when Roldani Baldwin laced a double to the wall in left. Two batters later, Nick Lovullo plated Baldwin with an RBI groundout.
Victor Diaz made the lead stand up with two scoreless frames of his own to notch his ninth save of the year.
The Drive now hit the road and will begin a four-game series against the Charleston RiverDogs, an affiliate of the New York Yankees, on Friday night at 7:05 in the conclusion of the Battle of the Palmetto State presented by Spinx. Right-hander Daniel Gonzalez (3-4, 4.52) takes the ball in the opener for the Drive, and the RiverDogs will start right-hander Daris Vargas (9-6, 2.95).