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Charleston RiverDogs

Pesky Fireflies, RiverDogs Cough up Four-Run Lead, Outlasted, 5-4, In

September 4, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


After jumping out to a 4-0 lead after four innings, the Charleston RiverDogs fell into a tailspin, seeing their four-run cushion evaporate as they were outlasted, 5-4, after 14 innings by the Columbia Fireflies in Saturday night's opener at Spirit Communications Park.

After a run scoring single in the seventh by Columbia (66-71, 30-37) third baseman Eudor Garcia completed the comeback, the game stayed scoreless until the 14th. Fireflies catcher Pat Mazieka reached on a leadoff single to right before RiverDogs righty Greg Weissert (0-1, 4.26) hit the next batter he faced, Dale Burdick. Weisser next induced a tailor made double play ball to second that was flipped on by Kyle Holder and airmailed into foul territory by shortstop Hoy Jun Park for a throwing error that plated the winning run and finished off the four hour and 39 minute affair, the longest game of the season for Charleston (74-62, 32-35).

Hobie Harris was superb to keep Charleston's hopes alive in extras. The former Pitt Panther grinded out 3.2 scoreless innings, all in extras, allowing two hits while walking a pair and striking out five to lower his ERA to 2.60. The McKinney, Texas native threw 65 pitches in relief before handing the ball off for the final out of the 13th.

Charleston looked fresh coming out of the unscheduled off day brought off after Friday's opener was postponed due to inclement weather. Mandy Alvarez sparked a two out rally with a single up the middle before the inning was extended on an error by Luis Ortega that allowed right fielder Jhalan Jackson to reach. Estevan Florial followed with a run scoring single, his third RBI in two games with his new club to make it 1-0 RiverDogs early.

Charleston stretched out their league in the second after three straight men reached to begin the frame. Catcher Luis Torrens ripped a double to right center and Ricardo Ferreira followed with a walk before Kane Sweeney smashed a base hit to right center to plate Torrens. Two batters later, Kyle Holder made it 3-0 Charleston with a sacrifice fly to center.

Torrens continued his monster night, smashing a solo shot to left field to lead off the fourth, his second of the year, that that it 4-0 Dogs. The Venezuelan backstop finished the night going 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of doubles and the homer while catching all 14 innings behind the plate.

Charleston's tailspin began in the fifth when J.C. Rodriguez smashed a two out, two run line drive homer to right to cut the deficit in half.

A double by Columbia outfielder Vicente Lupo and a pitch that ran inside to hit Ortega chased RiverDogs starter Christian Morris in the sxith. In entered Cody Carroll who spiked his first pitch into the dirt on a wild pitch that scored Lupo from third to make it a one run ballgame.

Columbia tied the game up in the seventh with three straight singles to begin the inning off of Carroll including an RBI knock by Burdick.

Alvarez went 4-for-7 at the plate in his first four-hit game with the RiverDogs to raise his season average to .265.

*Upcoming*

Before postseason play begins, the RiverDogs finish out the regular season with three more games in Columbia, taking on the Fireflies in a Sunday doubleheader starting at 3:30pm from Spirit Communications Park. Charleston will send RHP Daris Vargas (10-7, 2.70) in game one to face RHP Gaby Almonte (3-5, 5.51). Game two begins 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first as former Gamecock RHP Taylor Widener (1-0, 0.95) makes his return to Columbia in the start. Both games will be broadcast on WTMA 1250 AM and online at riverdogs.com. The RiverDogs open up the playoffs on Wednesday, September 7 on the road facing at State Mutual Stadium taking on the Rome Braves.

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