NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Charleston RiverDogs

Murton Steers RiverDogs Past Drive, Seals Sweep, 6-4

July 31, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Luke Murton went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs to lead the Charleston RiverDogs past the Greenville Drive, 6-4, in front of 4,077 fans in South Atlantic League action at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on Saturday night.

With the victory, Charleston wins its fifth straight game and climbs to 19-17, 50-55 overall. The win seals Charleston's first sweep of the second half and just second of the year since sweeping Rome at Riley Park from April 24-28.

Greenville drops its fifth consecutive game, its longest losing skid of the season, in falling to 21-15, 57-49 overall. The Drive end up on the losing end of a sweep for the first time since being swept by Rome from May 15-18, 2009.

The Drive struck first when Shannon Wilkerson's RBI fielder's choice plated Jeremy Hazelbaker from third to give the Drive a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Hazelbaker walked to open the game and stole his fifth bag in two games to move into scoring position. The former Ball State Cardinal then advanced to third on Derrik Gibson's infield single before scoring the opening run.

Charleston wasted little time responding, when J.R. Murphy extended his hitting streak to six games with a RBI single to left scoring Slade Heathcott from third. Heathcott walked to open the frame and moved to second on DeAngelo Mack's single through the hole at shortstop.

Rob Lyerly's infield single loaded the bases with Murton at the plate with the score tied 1-1. Drive starter Tom Ebert hit Murton to bring Mack home from third to the give the R'Dogs the lead 2-1. With the bases still loaded, Kelvin Castro's sacrifice fly to center allowed Murphy to come home from third to give Charleston a 3-1 advantage going into the second.

In his first career start, Ebert (8-3) took the loss for Greenville after giving up five hits and four runs in just 2.2 innings of work.

Ronald Bermudez's RBI groundout in the top of the third plated Hazelbaker to cut the lead to one, 3-2 RiverDogs. Hazelbaker singled to open the inning, moved to second on Gibson's fielder's choice and stole his second bag of the night to reach third.

Emerson Landoni's infield RBI single off the glove of reliever Chris Court scored Murton from third and bumped the Charleston lead back up to two runs, 4-2, in the bottom of the third. Murton singled to reach base, moving into scoring position on Castro's single to right and advanced to third on a throwing error by Drive third baseman Vladimir Frias on Francisco Santana's grounder with two outs.

Zach Gentile's RBI double to right-centerfield scored Reymond Fuentes to cut the Charleston lead back to one, 4-3, in the top of the fourth. Fuentes walked to reach base and moved into scoring position on a throwing error.

Charleston again responded quickly, taking a 5-3 lead in the bottom half. Lyerly singled with two outs, stole second, and Murton ripped off his first triple of the season to right-centerfield to plate Lyerly and put the RiverDogs up 5-3 going into the fifth.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Kelvin Castro's sacrifice fly gave Charleston their largest lead of the game, scoring Lyerly from third to push the lead to 6-3 going into the seventh. Neil Medchill's bases on balls loaded the bases after Lyerly and Murton ripped off back-to-back singles with one out.

The Drive cut into the lead in the top of the eighth, when Gentile's RBI single to first plated Rodriguez from third, bringing Greenville back within two at 6-4.

Greenville put the tying man at the plate against Francisco Gil in the ninth, but Landoni made a spectacular catch on Shannon Wilkerson's bleeder to right-centerfield to end the series and give Gil his seventh save.

Jairo Heredia (4-2) gets the win for Charleston after coming out of the bullpen to author 3.0 innings of scoreless ball, giving up three hits and fanning two batters.

Lyerly joined Murton with three hits, while Murphy posted his fourth straight two-hit game.

The RiverDogs head to Augusta to take on their Southern Division rivals the Augusta GreenJackets in a four-game series. Game one is set for Monday with a 7:05 p.m. as Charleston sends left-hander Josh Romanski to the hill (6-3, 3.25) against Augusta left-hander Craig Clark (2-2, 4.50).

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...

South Atlantic League Stories from July 31, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central