Tyler Hill Leads Offensive Attack as Greenville Wins, 10-3
After scoring just 3-runs in the first 31-innings of this four-game series, the Greenville Drive had to be wondering what it would take to finally get more than one run in any contest against the Charleston RiverDogs. They couldn’t feel really good about their chances of reversing their fortunes when the undefeated Phillip Diehl took to the hill, but the Drive scored eight-runs in the first two innings on their way to a 10-3 victory. Tyler Hill drove in four-runs in the win and Chris Madera scored three times to lead the attack.
After scoring one-run in each of the first three games, the Greenville Drive scored two-runs in the top of the first. Lorenzo Cedrola reached on an error to get things started and then stole second base. Madera followed by drawing a walk and both runners moved up 90-feet on the double steal. Tyler Hill then lined a single to center that scored both runners and it was 2-0 Greenville.
Charleston responded with a run in the bottom of the first. Estevan Florial opened the inning by drilling a ball to the wall in center and then legging it out for a triple. Diego Castillo followed by grounding out, scoring Florial and the lead was just one. However, in the second, the Drive blew this game open.
With one down, Carlos Tovar lined a double into right field. Diehl retired Steven Reveles for the second out of the inning, but the third proved to be quite elusive. Cedrola grounded a single into center that scored Tovar, extending the lead back to two. Madera followed with a base hit before Ryan Scott was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought Hill back to the plate, who drilled a double into left field, scoring both Cedrola and Madera to make it a 5-1 ballgame. A wild pitch brought home Scott, and Tucker Tubbs lined a base hit into center to score Hill to extend the lead to six. Isaias Lucera doubled, moving Tubbs to third, and a wild pitch brought home the sixth run of the inning.
The Charleston RiverDogs looked to take a bite out of that deficit in the bottom of the third when they plated two runs. Brandon Wagner was hit by a pitch to start the frame and moved to second when Carlos Vidal grounded a single into left field. A passed ball moved up both runners up before Castillo plated two more runs with a base hit into center. That made the score 8-3. That was the closest Charleston would get.
In the top of the fourth, Greenville added an additional run. Madera singled to start the inning and stole second base, his 10th stolen base of the year. Scott followed with a double into right field that scored Madera to make it 9-3.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Drive added one more run. Tubbs walked to start the frame, but reliever Hobie Harris struck out the next two batters. However, he could not get that elusive third out, as Carlos Tovar doubled into left field to score Tubbs with the final run of the game.
Tyler Hill led the Greenville offense by going 2-4 with a run, double, and 4-RBI. Chris Madera was 2-4 with 3-runs scored, and Carlos Tovar was 3-5 with a run, RBI, and 2-doubles. Jhonathan Diaz earned his first victory. The Charleston RiverDogs offense was led by Diego Castillo, who was 2-5 with 3-RBI.
The Charleston RiverDogs welcome the West Virginia Power tomorrow night. Jio Orozco (1-3, 6.31) will take the mound for Charleston going up against Cam Vieaux (2-0, 1.38). First pitch is 7:05.
By Robert Pannier