News Summary
In a thrilling extra innings match, the Greenville Drive defeated the Spartanburgers 3-2, overcoming an 8-inning scoreless stretch. Key performances from both teams emerged, including standout pitching from Dalton Pence and critical hits from Maximus Martin and Freili Encarnacion. With only 14 games left this season, both teams continue to vie for playoff positioning, making every upcoming game crucial.
Greenville – In a thrilling extra innings clash on Friday night, the Greenville Drive overcame an eight-inning scoreless streak to defeat the Spartanburgers 3-2, securing the win in the 11th inning. This victory improved the Drive’s season record to 27-25, while the Spartanburgers fell to 26-26 in the South Atlantic League (SAL) standings.
The tightly contested game featured standout performances from both teams, particularly on the mound. The Spartanburgers’ pitcher, Dalton Pence, achieved six innings of shutout baseball with a career-high 10 strikeouts. His performance was remarkable, as he retired 13 consecutive Drive batters between the second and sixth innings. Throughout the series’ initial four games, the Hub City starters have collectively struck out a total of 31 Greenville hitters. Meanwhile, Drive starter Jedixson Paez also had a strong showing, registering five strikeouts in the first three innings.
Heading into the eighth inning, the Spartanburgers had a 2-0 lead. The scoring began after a hit by pitch incident involving Yeison Morrobel, leading to a crucial double by Ben Hartl, which allowed pinch runner Maxton Martin to score. Dylan Dreiling then followed with a single, bringing Hartl home.
However, the ninth inning saw a dramatic turnaround. The Drive’s offense came alive against Spartanburgers’ reliever Adrian Rodriguez, who allowed three hits that resulted in two runs. This scoring effort included an RBI single from Maximus Martin and a game-tying double from Freili Encarnacion that enabled the Drive to tie the game 2-2, forcing extra innings. Despite facing challenges, Rodriguez managed to strike out the side in the ninth inning, showcasing his resilience.
In extra innings, Jesus Gamez started with a flawless top of the 10th. However, the 11th presented difficulties as he loaded the bases after issuing walks. A critical wild pitch ultimately allowed Franklin Arias to cross home plate for Greenville, registering the go-ahead run. The Spartanburgers’ opportunity to respond in the bottom of the inning ended fruitlessly against Drive reliever Noah Dean, who secured the save and sealed the victory for Greenville.
As the season progresses, there are only 14 games left, making each matchup essential for teams vying for playoff contention. With the upcoming contest set for Saturday at 6:35 PM ET, the anticipation builds as the Spartanburgers will send D.J. McCarty to the mound, facing off against Greenville’s Shane Drohan.
This game marks another chapter in what has been an exciting season of SAL baseball, with intense competition evident as both teams continue to fight for positioning in the standings. The situation remains dynamic, and fans will be eager to see how the final stretch of games unfolds.
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Online: Hub City to Honor Upstate’s Place in Negro Leagues
- Wikipedia: Negro Leagues
- MILB: Drive Fall to Spartanburgers
- Google Search: South Atlantic League
- Go Upstate: Spartanburgers at Home vs. Drive
- Google Scholar: Minor League Baseball
- Fox Carolina: Greenville Drive Announces Partnership
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Greenville Drive
- MLB: Visit Fifth Third Park
Author: STAFF HERE SPARTANBURG
The SPARTANBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESpartanburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Spartanburg International Festival, Spartanburg ArtWalk, and motorsport events at Spartanburg Speedway. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and textiles that power the local economy such as BMW Manufacturing and Milliken & Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
