RiverDogs downed by Drive

Drive 5, RiverDogs 2

Tyler Wilson tossed six shutout innings as the Greenville Drive defeated the Charleston RiverDogs, 5-2, in South Atlantic League baseball Thursday night in front of 4,009 fans at Riley Park.

Greenville took three out of four in the series, improving to 33-27 and 71-59 overall, while Charleston fell to 24-36 and 50-80.

The Drive erupted for four runs in the third inning, scoring all four with two outs against Shane Green (4-13). Henry Ramos drew a bases-loaded walk before Michael Almanzar smacked a three-run double off the left-field wall to make it 4-0.

Greene settled in to work six innings, yielding the four runs on six hits and five walks while striking out seven for the second consecutive start.

The Drive tacked on an insurance run in the seventh.

The RiverDogs finally broke through in the eighth after Shane Brown singled in Jeff Farnham, who had doubled earlier.

In the ninth, Mike Ferraro hit his first home run of the season, just inside the right-field foul pole to cut it to 5-2.

Ballpark fun

The always-popular Go Back to Ohio Night made its return. It was also the second-to-last Budweiser Thirsty Thursday of the campaign.

Coming up

The RiverDogs travel to Savannah to face off against the first-place Sand Gnats. Right-hander Mike Gipson (0-2, 5.84 ERA) is scheduled to take the ball for Charleston against left-hander Angel Cuan (10-3, 3.50 ERA) of the New York Mets' affiliate.