Drive held to one hit in 7-0 blanking by Hot Rods

The Greenville Drive’s (33-25, 59-65) Miguel Ugueto knocked a single in the second inning accounting for the Drive’s lone hit on the night as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (36-18, 73-48) blanked the Drive 7-0; the second time the Drive were shutout this week.

The loss dropped Greenville to 5.5 games back of the first-place Hot Rods with eight games left in the season, dwindling the Drive’s playoff window.

Hot Rods starter Jackson Baumeister dominated the Drive from the outset, ultimately recording 11 strikeouts on the night in seven innings of work which were marked by exceptional efficiency. In seven innings, he threw just 68 pitches — 53 of those for strikes. Ronald Rosario was the lone batter in the Drive lineup to avoid striking out.

Ugueto’s hit in the second, ultimately represented the only baserunner of the night for the Drive as well.

After three solid innings from starter Dalton Rogers, the fourth inning would be trouble for the Drive. Hot Rods Mac Horvath and Noah Myers chipped in RBI-singles before Rogers recorded two hits, eventually being pulled in favor of reliever Adam Smith. Rogers finished the night officially with 3 ⅔ innings allowing three runs on four hits with a pair of walks and a trio of strikeouts.

Smith promptly threw away a pickoff attempt, allowing Myers to score from third for a 3-0 lead before picking up a strikeout. The fifth inning would not be any kinder to Smith as he gave up an RBI-single and a two-out three-run homer to put the Drive in a 7-0 hole. Smith tossed 3 ⅓ innings allowing four runs on five hits with a lone strikeout.

Zach Fogell tossed the final frame for the Drive, allowing a hit while picking up a pair of groundouts and a fly out.

The Drive return to action on Saturday, August 31st at 7:35 p.m. for game five of a six-game series with the division-leading Bowling Green Hot Rods. The Drive are currently 5.5 games back of first-place Bowling Green, as the Hot Rods lead the series, 4-0, and have clinched the series victory.

The back and forth action finally broke one way in the bottom of the sixth. Piggyback reliever Noah Dean struggled on the mound walking the first four batters he faced and relinquishing a single to put Bowling Green up 6-4. After his fifth walk of the frame made it 7-4, Dean was pulled for Cooper Adams who allowed a sac-fly and a triple boosting the Hot Rods’ lead to 9-4.

Adams ultimately finished the night allowing the lone hit with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Drive return to action on Wednesday, August 28th for game two of a six-game series with the division-leading Bowling Green Hot Rods. The Drive are currently 2.5 games back of first place Bowling Green, as the Hot Rods lead the series, 1-0.