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SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Mitchell, Baisley, Almonte Pace RiverDogs to 4-2 Win

April 10, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - D.J. Mitchell dazzled in his professional debut while Brian Baisley and Abraham Almonte each scored and drove home a run as the Charleston RiverDogs overpowered the Braves, 4-2, in South Atlantic League action Friday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Mitchell (1-0), a former Clemson standout, mixed his 90 mph fastball along with a 12-to-6 curve that bewildered Rome for six innings as the right-hander yielded an unearned run, an infield hit and struck out six. He faced 20 batters and got nine on groundouts.

Professional baseball's only ambidextrous pitcher, Pat Venditte, made his Charleston debut in the ninth inning. Pitching to four batters - three right-handed and one left - Venditte locked down the final frame for his first save as a RiverDog.

The game was the second-consecutive standing room only crowd of the young season, as 6,023 fans endured the 30-plus mph winds at The Joe.

With the victory, the RiverDogs and the Braves both even their record at 1-1.

Rome plated the game's first tally in the fourth inning when Ryan Barba reached on a fielding error, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Barba scored the unearned run on Gerardo Rodriguez's single.

Charleston promptly tied the game at 1-1 in their portion of the fourth when David Adams drew a leadoff walk off Rome starter Jacob Thompson. Adams scored on Baisley's line drive RBI double to right field.

Thompson, who pitched 4.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits, was forced to leave the game after injuring his leg on a close play at first base. Fielding a chopping ground ball, his momentum caused a fall after he made the throw. Rome manager Randy Ingle decided not to take any chances and promptly replaced Thompson with reliever Yeliar Castro.

Castro suffered the loss as he pitched 2.2 innings and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out four.

In the sixth the RiverDogs reclaimed the lead. Baisley laced a double down the left field line and Almonte followed with a single to knock home Baisley, giving the hosts a 2-1 advantage. With Almonte scampering to second on the throw, Melky Mesa continued the Charleston offensive onslaught with a slapped double that drove in Almonte to hand the RiverDogs a 3-1 lead.

The Braves' Chais Fuller lined a triple into the left field corner to lead off the eighth inning, and then dashed home when Jesus Sucre singled up the middle for Rome's second run and made the score 3-2.

Ray Kruml led the eighth inning for Charleston with a single to left center only to race to third when Adams lined a single to right center. Manager Torre Tyson decided to force the situation as he signaled for Adams to steal second. While the Braves successfully picked off Adams at second, Kruml sprinted home for an insurance run.

Both Kruml and Baisley recorded a pair of hits to lead the RiverDogs' eight-hit attack while Rodriguez had two of the Braves' four knocks.

The third contest in this four-game series is set for Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Charleston manager Torre Tyson will give the ball to standout southpaw Manny Banuelos (0-0, 0.00 ERA) while Rome counters with righty Paul Clemens (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 10, 2009


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