Drive Clipped by BlueClaws, 6-4

Neither the Drive (1-1) nor the Lakewood BlueClaws (1-1) executed well with runners in scoring position Friday night at Fluor Field. But the visiting team did just enough late in the game to come away with a 6-4 win in the second game of the 2012 season.

While Lakewood tallied 10 hits in the ballgame, only two came with runners in scoring position in a total of 16 opportunities. But a pair of eighth inning solo homers by Brian Pointer and Aaron Altherr off of Matty Ott (0-1) proved to be the difference makers.

The Drive struck for a run in the bottom of the first, when Jose Garcia began the frame by reaching on an error. After swiping second and third, the speedy second baseman came home on Henry Ramos' two-out, single.

The BlueClaws tied the game in the top of the third on Pointer's sacrifice fly, but Greenville quickly regained the lead in the home half of the inning. Once again it was Ramos coming through, recording a one-out, RBI-single.

On a night when the Drive used speed to their advantage early, swiping seven bases, Jose Vinicio led off the bottom of the fourth by drawing a walk, before stealing second and third. Garcia then lifted a ball to centerfield that allowed Vinicio to easily trot home, giving Greenville a two-run lead.

Lakewood chipped away in the top of the sixth, pulling within a run as Kyrell Hudson reached on an error and eventually scored on Logan Moore's groundout. Hudson tied the game in the eighth with an RBI-single before Christopher Duffy gave the BlueClaws their first lead of 2012 with a two-out, RBI-single.

Blake Swihart made sure that the Drive wouldn't go without a fight, knocking in a run in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 4-4. Greenville was poised to regain the lead when Ramos stepped up to the plate, perfect in his previous four at bats.

The centerfielder went down swinging, however, as the Drive left the bases loaded for the third time in the game. After Lakewood took the lead in the ninth, Ryan Duke closed the door on the Drive to pickup the save.

The Drive and BlueClaws continue their four-game series tomorrow, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. Southpaw Henry Owens (0-0, -.--ERA), the 36th overall selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, is set to make his professional debut as he takes the hill for Greenville. Lakewood will counter with right-hander Michael Nesseth (0-0, -.--ERA).

Opening Week, presented by TD Bank, continues on Saturday from Fluor Field with an appearance from Reggy "The Purple Party Dude." Single-game tickets, group outings, luxury accommodations, and ticket plans are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (864) 240-4500, or visiting GreenvilleDrive.com.

GAME NOTES: Attendance was 5,034...Drive pitchers have fanned 25 batters in the first two games of the season