SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Cortes' Streak Comes to An End as RiverDogs Fall, 4-1, in Finale to Columbia

Published on July 6, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


COLUMBIA, SC - RiverDogs left-hander Nestor Cortes had not allowed a run in 19 consecutive innings with Charleston, but the streak would come to an end against the Fireflies on Wednesday night. The Miami native gave up the tying run in the seventh inning before Columbia would complete a 4-1 victory over the Charleston RiverDogs in the finale of a three-game tilt at Spirit Communications Park.

Cortes had his best stuff going, facing the minimum through the first six innings and allowing just two hits before Columbia (41-43, 5-9) would rally from a one run deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Fireflies second baseman Luis Ortega singled up the middle but was caught stealing second on a throw by Charleston (47-35, 5-8) catcher Audie Afenir. Kevin Kaczmarski followed up with a walk before Jeff Diehl crushed a double to right-center that tied the ballgame up at one.

Cortes would exit after finishing out the seventh, allowing just a run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The seven innings matched a career-high for the Hialeah Senior High School product.

Columbia took the lead in the eighth inning, jumping on RiverDogs reliever Garrett Mundell (0-2). Eudor Garcia hit a single into right that glanced off the outstretched glove of Mundell for a fortuitous base hit before outfielder Vicente Lupo doubled him home to give the Fireflies their first lead at 2-1. After Fireflies catcher Natanael Ramos bunted Lupo over, Enmanuel Zabala tripled to right to double the advantage. With Zabala at third, J.C. Rodriguez hit a ground ball to first that Chris Gittens fired home, but Zabala just snuck around the tag by Afenir to make it 4-1 Columbia.

RiverDogs right fielder Jhalan Jackson gave the RiverDogs an early advantage in the second when he crushed a one out solo home run off the batter's eye in center, his sixth of the year.

The RiverDogs remain tied for sixth place in the Southern Division with a 5-8 second half record, a half game up on the Fireflies who sit in last place with a 5-9 mark.

Upcoming

The RiverDogs continue their weeklong road trip with a four day weekend in Asheville, taking on the Tourists in Thursday's opener at 7:05pm from McCormick Field. The RiverDogs will send RHP Domingo German (0-1, 5.40) to the mound as Asheville trots out RHP Peter Lambert (3-6, 2.97). The RiverDogs will return to the The Joe for a weeklong homestand from July 12-18.

Ticket information for the RiverDogs homestand and any of the remaining home games can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com. Tickets for game two of the SAL Division Series on Friday, September 9 at The Joe are now available. Those that can't make it to the park can follow every pitch of the RiverDogs season on WTMA 1250 AM and streaming online at riverdogs.com. Listen on WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 6, 2016


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