GREENVILLE, S.C. — Behind a clutch home run from Franklin Arias and a dominant outing from starting pitcher Eduardo Rivera, the Greenville Drive capped off a strong homestand with a 7–2 win over the Rome Emperors on Sunday afternoon at Fluor Field. The victory gave the Drive five wins in the six-game series and pushed their record to 30–27, three games above .500.
The game was defined by two key offensive surges — a four-run third inning and a three-run sixth — that proved more than enough for Greenville’s pitching staff to secure the win. Rivera (3–1) delivered another stellar performance, striking out eight batters over 5 2/3 innings while allowing just one run on six hits and a walk. The lone blemish on his outing came via a solo home run from E.J. Exposito in the sixth.
Greenville’s bullpen continued the momentum, with Erik Rivera and Darvin Garcia combining for 3 1/3 innings of solid relief to close the door on the Emperors.
Offensively, Arias led the charge, going 2-for-5 with a crucial two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth that helped put the game out of reach. Yophery Rodriguez added a pair of hits, including a double and a stolen base, while Freili Encarnacion contributed a 2-for-4 effort with a double and a run scored.
The Drive opened the scoring in the third inning after Rodriguez and Nelly Taylor reached base. Antonio Anderson delivered a key single, followed by an RBI knock from Nazzan Zanetello that scored two. A fielding miscue by Rome left fielder Jace Grady and a mishandled grounder by shortstop Lizandro Espinoza extended the inning and allowed two more runs to score.
Rome starter Cedric De Grandpre (1–1) struggled through three innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks over 69 pitches.
After Exposito’s solo shot in the sixth brought Rome within three, the Drive quickly answered. Brooks Brannon singled to start the bottom half, followed by Encarnacion’s double. Justin Riemer lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in Brannon, and Arias followed with his towering two-run homer to right field off Samuel Strickland, extending the lead to 7–1.
Exposito continued to be Rome’s standout performer, going 3-for-4 and driving in both of the Emperors’ runs. However, the rest of the lineup struggled mightily, combining for 12 strikeouts and producing just one hit in seven chances with runners in scoring position.
Greenville finished the game with a 10–7 edge in hits and capitalized on three defensive errors by Rome, two of which directly contributed to early scoring opportunities. Over the six-game series, the Drive outscored the Emperors 33–14, showcasing both offensive depth and reliable pitching.
The Drive now head on the road for a six-game set against the Hudson Valley Renegades, looking to carry their momentum into the next series.
