SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Cromer Victorious as RiverDogs Down Crawdads

Published on June 8, 2003 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


(Charleston, SC) – Jason Cromer picked up his first victory of the season, and the RiverDogs won for the ninth time in ten games, defeating Hickory 4-1 in front of 2,717 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Cromer (1-6), making his 13th start this season, had been a victim of porous defense, a lack of run support, and just plain bad luck. On Sunday afternoon, all three finally went his way as Charleston (36-27) won its seventh straight game at home and pulled within two and a half games of first-place Hickory (37-23).

The RiverDogs gave the left-hander a three-run lead to work with and Cromer never looked back, throwing 6 1/3 strong innings, scattering ten hits and allowing one run en route to his first victory since August 25, 2002 when he was pitching with Hudson Valley in the New York-Penn League.

Charleston came through the necessary offense in the third inning against Hickory starter Jonathan Albaladejo (3-3). Ryan Riley led off with his first of two hits in the game, a line single to center field. B.J. Upton followed with a base hit down the left field line that kicked away from Hickory outfielder Jorge Cortes for an RBI triple. Two batters later, Wes Bankston extended his hitting streak to a career-high ten games with an RBI single to right. Later in the inning, Vince Harrison's sacrifice fly scored Bankston from third to make it 3-0.

The Crawdads fought back with a run in the fourth inning when Jose Hernandez singled home Bobby Kingsbury from second.

Hickory threatened in the seventh inning, bringing the tying run to the plate before Jason Pridie's diving catch on a ball hit by Jorge Cortes thwarted the Crawdads rally.

Carlos Hines pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 12th save of the season.

Upton, John-Paul Davis and Brent Cordell had three hits each for Charleston. Joe Yarbrough pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings out of the RiverDogs bullpen.

Charleston is now nine games above .500 for the first time this season.

The third game of the series is Monday. Left-handed pitcher Mike Prochaska (2-4) makes the start for Charleston. He will be opposed by right-hander Alex Hart (7-0) for Hickory. The RiverDogs look to hand Hart the first loss of his two-year career on a Roper St. Francis Healthcare Medical Monday.

Game time is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 8, 2003


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