Drive Taken Down by Tourists on Monday

Greenville, SC - A four-run top of the fourth inning was all the Asheville Tourists needed on Monday night in a 5-2 defeat of the Greenville Drive in front of 5,194 fans at Fluor Field.
After cruising for the first three innings, which included seven strikeouts, Bryan Mata (3-4) ran into trouble in the fourth. After a walk and a fielder's choice by the Tourists (21-16, 50-55), Manny Melendez smacked a one-out triple to put the Tourists ahead for good. Melendez scored on an RBI groundout from Max George, while Taylor Snyder and Carlos Herrera followed up with singles to plate the fourth run.

Asheville's starter Breiling Eusebio (3-1) bounced back after allowing a first inning run, and he earned the win after giving up five hits through six innings with five strikeouts. Reid Humphreys received the save after a quick ninth inning to close out the ball game.
The Drive (17-19, 58-47) struck first against Asheville when Lorenzo Cedrola led off the bottom half of the first inning with a single, and Roldani Baldwin followed up with a one out double.
Asheville added an extra insurance run in the top of the sixth when George launched a home run over the Green Monster off Algenis Martinez.
That home run was the only mistake made by Martinez, as he struck out five hitters over three and one-third solid innings of relief.
Greenville cut into the Asheville lead in the bottom of the eighth when Ryan Scott hit a sacrifice fly to send Santiago Espinal home from third.
Baldwin led the Drive offense with two hits and an RBI in the game, while Steven Reveles notched a pair of hits as well.
Game two of the three-game series is set for 7:05 PM on Tuesday at Fluor Field. The pitching matchup will feature Drive left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez (3-2, 3.65) against Tourists right-hander Matt Dennis (5-2, 3.00).