Drive bats cooled by Greensboro quintet, fall in Sunday finale, 4-1
The Greensboro Grasshoppers (12-7) pitching quintet of Alessandro Ercolani, Drake Fellows, Darvin Garcia, Emmanuel Chapman, and Jaden Woods held the Greenville Drive (7-14) to just five hits in the series finale on Sunday at Fluor Field, en route to a 4-1 victory; earning a series split. The Drive struggled from
The Greensboro Grasshoppers (12-7) pitching quintet of Alessandro Ercolani, Drake Fellows, Darvin Garcia, Emmanuel Chapman, and Jaden Woods held the Greenville Drive (7-14) to just five hits in the series finale on Sunday at Fluor Field, en route to a 4-1 victory; earning a series split.
The Drive struggled from the plate after loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the first, squandering what ultimately would be their best chance at runs on Sunday afternoon. Ronald Rosario would go down on strikes after working the count in his favor at 3-0 before Tyler Miller would pop out. It would be the only trouble Ercolani faced in his start, as he picked up quick outs over the last four batters he faced.
By that point, the ‘Hoppers had opened 2-0 lead off Drive starter David Sandlin who gave up a lead-off homer to Termarr Johnson and Hudson Head chipped in an RBI-double for a 2-0 lead. Sandlin recovered from there picking up back-to-back 1-2-3 innings. He’d ultimately toss four innings, allowing just the two runs on four hits, with one walk and five strikeouts.
Greenville cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth, as a Tyler Miller single set up a Miguel Ugueto RBI-double for the Drive’s only run. Allan Castro would pick up the Drive’s final hit of the night in the sixth as relievers Chapman and Woods held the Drive hitless over the last 2 ⅔ innings.
Jack Brannigan added his third homer of the series in the fifth, this time a solo-shot to center field to open up a 3-1 lead and squash the Drive’s momentum after Ugueto’s RBI-double in the half inning prior.
Zach Fogell provided two innings of relief work for the Drive, the Brannigan homer being the only hit he’d allow. He’d walk one and strike out two as well.
Bryce Bonnin continued his impressive start with the Drive, tossing a nearly perfect two innings as he allowed one walk and picked up a strikeout. Adam Smith rounded off the rotation for the Drive allowing two hits in the ninth and one run, a Maikol Escotto RBI-single to put the ‘Hoppers up 4-1.
The Greenville Drive return to action in Asheville, N.C. on Tuesday, April 30 for game one of a six-game series against the Asheville Tourists.