Drive Run over RiverDogs in 15-10 Rout
May 26, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC- The Greenville Drive scored eight times in the third inning and never looked back in a 15-10 rout of the Charleston RiverDogs in South Atlantic League action on Saturday night in front of 4,081 at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
The RiverDogs now stand at 31-17 on the year and lost another game in the standings to the victorious Asheville Tourists, while Greenville evened their record at 24-24.
The Drive opened up the scoring with three runs in the first against starter Wilton Rodriguez (1-2). Garin Cecchini (5-6, 5 RBIs 2 runs) knocked in the first run with an RBI single and scored the second run on a base hit by Henry Ramos. An RBI groundout then put the RiverDogs in an early 3-0 hole.
In the bottom of the first inning, Charleston took advantage of a pair of walks to get a run back, as a Tyler Austin (2-3, RBI, 2 runs) RBI single made the score 3-1. One inning later, they scored three times to take the lead. First, Reymond Nunez evened things up with a long two-run homer over the right field wall off starter Jason Garcia (1-2), his second round-tripper of the year. Then, after Mason Williams singled and stole second, Cito Culver scored him with a single to center.
The third inning is when Greenville blew the game open and knocked out Rodriguez. The Drive scored eight runs and sent 12 men to the plate. The first eight batters of the inning all reached on a walk, a double and six singles, with five of those hits driving in runs. The Drive compiled eight hits, none of which scored more than one run, and seven different players had RBIs. The inning, which was the most damaging the RiverDogs have endured this season, finally ended when Brett Gerritse struck out Ramos with two men on.
Trailing 11-4 after two and a half innings, the RiverDogs put forth a valiant effort, but were unable to overcome the huge deficit. They scored one run in the third when Austin doubled and scored on a double play, but it was equaled in the fifth when Cecchini hit an RBI double.
As has been the case all year, the RiverDogs didn't go away without a fight. In the seventh with two on and two out, Ben Gamel dropped an RBI double into left field to score one run. Angelo Gumbs (2-4, HR, 3 RBI) then launched a three-run homer over the wall in left-center to cut the Greenville lead to three runs. Once again, though, the Drive responded, with a three-run rally in the ninth capped by a 2-run double by Cecchini. Charleston rallied again in the ninth to score another run but Tyler Lockwood got out of the jam and earned the save.
BALLPARK FUN: Possibly the best sumo wrestling match of the year took place on the field between the third and fourth innings. Both participants knocked each other around in a hard-fought and exciting battle that gained the support of the Riley Park crowd.
COMING UP: Charleston and Greenville will square off in the last game of this homestand on Sunday night with the first pitch at 5:05 pm. The probables for the game are RHP Bryan Mitchell (4-2, 2.53 ERA) for the RiverDogs and RHP Yeiper Castillo (4-1, 3.43 ERA) for the Drive. Mascots from all over the Charleston area will be at the game for Mascot Mania. They will be participating in a kickball match before the game, a mascot parade, signing autographs and performing a dance off. Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission and Crews Chevrolet are presenting another Family Sunday with Free Parking. Kids Eat Free again sponsored by Pepsi and all the usual festivities will be back. Pre-game catch on the field will be held, as will Reading with a RiverDog and postgame autographs with the entire team.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 26, 2012
- Asheville Continues Road Dominance with 12-2 Win over Rome - Asheville Tourists
- 'Claws, Suns Split Double-Dip - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Karns Mows Down BlueClaws in Game One of Doubleheader Split - Hagerstown Suns
- Pitching Woes Continue, Asheville a 12-2 Winner - Rome Emperors
- Improved Offense Falls Short in 7-4 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Run over RiverDogs in 15-10 Rout - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Silenced in 1-0 Loss to Greensboro - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Crawdads Roll to 11-2 Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Crawdads Thump Legends with 11-2 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Hickory Rolls Past Legends 11-2 - Lexington Legends
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Game Notes vs. Greensboro - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tourists Blast the Braves 11-1; Take over First Place - Asheville Tourists
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