Drive Come up Short in the Ninth as Tourists Hang on for 3-2 Victory

June 12, 2024 – South Atlantic League (SAL)
Greenville Drive News Release

The Greenville Drive (22-37) cut the lead to one in the bottom of the ninth and put the tying run on board at second base with two outs, but a strikeout ended the comeback bid preserving the Asheville Tourists (26-31) 3-2 victory Wednesday night at Fluor Field.

The loss marked the third straight series in which they dropped the opening two games. In those previous series, last week in Hickory and two weeks ago at home against Rome, the Drive ultimately dropped five straight games before picking up a victory in the Sunday contest of both series.

Greenville continued to struggle at the plate as of late, amassing only five hits on the night, though they’d come in the late stages of the game. Ultimately they were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base, including stranding runners on the corners in the second, after the first two batters of the inning reached base safely.

Cutter Coffey gave the Drive an early 1-0 lead on Wednesday, skying a homer over the Greenville Monster for his seventh homer of the season and second homer in as many games. But any early notions of a fruitful night at the plate were quickly diminished.

The Drive were held hitless over the next four innings, following Cutter’s homer, by Tourists starter Jose Guedez who allowed two walks with four strikeouts in his five innings of work.

With Guedez cruising the Tourists were able to work around the 1-0 deficit, finally cracking starter Connelly Early in the fourth with a little help from Drive fielding woes and a controversial call at second base. After Logan Cerny walked, Ryan Johnson poked one off the outfield wall. Left fielder Juan Chacon played the ball quickly, firing to Ahbram Liendo at second in plenty of time. Johnson feigned a slide and tried to jump over Liendo as Liendo appeared to tag him on the leg in time before he landed on the base. Base path umpire Dylan Hulsey ruled Johnson safe to the incredulity of the Drive infield. The call would not draw an argument from the Drive dugout.

It proved to be a crucial call as Narbe Cruz knotted the game with an RBI single a pitch later and a Luis Encarnacion grounder into a force out put the Tourists in front as Johnson came around to score. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and Brice Matthews knocked an RBI single to make it 3-1. Early exited after the fourth, officially allowing three runs on four hits with three walks and five…