April 22, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Rizzo homers, drives in 3 in Drive win
4/22 Cup of Coffee:It was a wet day in the northeast, as both Pawtucket and Portland were rained out. Julio Lugo and Jonathan Van Every were both scheduled to begin rehab assignments with Pawtucket.
Salem was scheduled to play a double header Tuesday due to the rainout of Monday's game against Wilmington, but the rains once again came hard and heavy, suspending the scheduled night game in the top of the fourth inning with Salem leading 5-1. The two teams did manage to play seven innings in game one, with Salem falling 8-3. The teams will resume play in game two before tonight's regularly scheduled contest. Kyle Weiland (0-1) started for the Red Sox in game 1 and was roughed up, surrendering 8 runs (7 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks in 3.1 innings, striking out 4. Jose Alvarez pitched the final 2.2 before the game was called, yielding just 3 hits and no runs. Matt Sheely continued to swing a hot bat, going 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Aaron Reza went 1 for 3 with his first home run of 2009, a two-run shot in the third. Ryan Kalish and Mike Jones each went 1 for 3 as well, while Kris Negron went 1 for 2 with a walk.
The weather did manage to cooperate in Kannapolis, NC, where the Drive downed the homestanding Intimidators by a score of 5-3. Bryan Price (1-0) started for Greenville, firing 6.0 innings giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks, fanning 4 to earn the win. Hunter Strickland pitched the final 3.0 innings to earn his first save of the year, giving up only a solo home run while striking out 2. The Drive pounded out 11 hits, led by Anthony Rizzo, who was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a home run, and 3 RBI to raise his season line to .313/.424/.563. Michael Almanzar went 3 for 5, while David Mailman went 2 for 5 with a triple and an RBI.
Player of the Night: Anthony Rizzo, who went 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a home run, and 3 RBI in Greenville's 5-3 win over Kannapolis.