Red Sox honor Drive's Natale, Lara

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Boston Red Sox have announced their Organizational Minor League Award winners for the month of April and two Greenville Drive players have been named recipients. Designated hitter/infielder Jeff Natale was named the Offensive Player of the Month and infielder Christian Lara was named Base-Stealer of the Month.

Natale, a 32nd round draft pick in June 2005, finished second in the organization with a .341 batting average in April. His five home runs were also second (to teammate Chris Turner) in the Red Sox minor league system and he led all Boston farm hands with 22 runs batted in. Natale currently ranks amongst the league leaders in several categories in the South Atlantic League - 4th in batting average (.343), 3rd in RBIs (36), 3rd in on-base percentage (.487), and 5th in slugging percentage (.573).

Lara, who was signed by the Red Sox in 2002 as a non-drafted free agent, led the entire minor league organization in April with 14 stolen bases, while only being thrown out twice. Lara also finished second on the Drive with 18 runs scored.

The Drive return home to West End Field to begin an eight-game home stand starting on Tuesday, May 23rd versus the Greensboro Grasshoppers. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM. Tickets to all Drive home games can be purchased by calling the Drive Ticket Office at (864) 240-4528 or by ordering online at www.GreenvilleDrive.com.