SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Castro's Sacrifice Fly Stalls Drive, 4-3

Published on July 29, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Charleston squandered an early 3-0 lead before Kelvin Castro's game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, as the RiverDogs clipped the Greenville Drive, 4-3, in front of 4,485 fans in South Atlantic League action at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on Wednesday night.

A three-game winning streak has Charleston back to .500 at 17-17, 48-55 overall, while Greenville has dropped three straight in falling to 21-13, 57-47 overall while losing three consecutive games for the first time since May 21-23.

With the game locked in a 3-3 stalwart in the bottom of the eighth, Luke Murton singled against Anatanaer Batista (3-5) to open the frame. Neil Medchill walked to move the go-ahead run to second. Emerson Landoni pinch-ran for Murton and took third on DeAngelo Mack's single to load the bases with no one out.

Kelvin Castro's sacrifice fly to left on the first pitch from new reliever Dennis Neuman brought Landoni home from third, to give Charleston a 4-3 lead going into the final frame.

Francisco Gil (1-2) fanned the first two batters, gave up a two-out single to former Citadel standout Chris McGuiness, but got Ronald Bermudez to ground out to end the game and give Gil his first SAL win.

Charleston lit the board early, when Rob Lyerly sent a two-run shot over the right field wall off Greenville starter Ryan Pressly. The former UNC Charlotte standout's homer, his fifth this month and sixth of the season, brought J.R. Murphy home from first, giving Charleston a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

Medchill belted the first pitch of the second inning over the centerfield wall, his fifth home run of the season, for a 3-0 RiverDogs advantage going into the third.

Zach Gentile broke up the shutout bid with his RBI double off Charleston starter Mike Solbach to left that plated Sean Killeen from second, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Killeen opened the frame with a screamer down the left field line for his second double of the year.

Gentile moved to third on Christian Vazquez's pop out to right and came home on Jeremy Hazelbaker's RBI single to center, slicing the lead to one, 3-2 RiverDogs going into the bottom of the fifth.

Solbach took a no-decision after giving up four hits and two earned runs, with three strikeouts, in 4.1 innings of work.

In the eighth inning, McGuiness and Bermudez walked to start versus Charleston's Ryan Acosta. Gil entered and promptly allowed Reynaldo Rodriguez to strike a RBI single to center, plating McGuiness from second to knot the score at 3-3.

Slade Heathcott's throw to the plate allowed each runner to move up a base, putting second and third with nobody out. Gil took over from there, inducing consecutive groundouts from Michael Almanzar and Killen for two outs. Gentile was intentionally walked, and Vazquez flew out to centerfield to end the threat and set the stage for Charleston's rally.

Murton, Medchill, Mack and J.R. Murphy all had two hits each for the RiverDogs.

Game three of this four-game series is set for 7:05 p.m. Friday, with Charleston sending right-hander Jose Ramirez (5-4, 3.29) to the hill against Greenville left-hander Drake Britton (1-1, 2.91).

-RIVERDOGS- BALLPARK FUN: It was another dog day of summer as fans beat the heat with another Budweiser Thirsty Thursday at The Joe, featuring $1 beers in the Ashley View Pub. Fans put on their big league smiles for CD's Models & Talent Search in the concourse all game long. The talent wasn't limited to the to the search though, as the RiverDogs and Drive kept it tight and entertaining for the fans, until game MVP Kelvin Castro broke the stalwart in the bottom of the eighth.

UP NEXT: If it is the crack of the bat and boom of the fireworks you hear around the park, it can only mean another Force Protection *Red Shirt Friday. *Also, the fireworks aren't just on the diamond as it's Piggly Wiggly Post Game Fireworks. Fans of America's Pastime are in for another treat as former American League president and RiverDogs co-owner Gene Budig will be at the ballpark signing copies of his new book!

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 29, 2010


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