Culver, Butler Set Down Suns 4-3
Published on August 9, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC - Cito Culver reached base three times and drove in the eventual winning run as the Charleston RiverDogs squeaked by the Hagerstown Suns 4-3 on Thursday night in South Atlantic League action at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in front of 3,715.
The RiverDogs evened this four game series at one game apiece and moved 61-53 (22-25 in the second half). The Suns are now 67-49 (25-22 in the second half) so far this season. The victory also snapped an eight game home losing streak for Charleston.
"It was nice to finally get a big win at home," said RiverDogs manager Carlos Mendoza. "That was a fantastic outing by Corey Black. I was really impressed by the way he threw the ball. The sacrifice fly by Gamel got it started and then we got some timely hitting. That was a big win for us."
Charleston's Corey Black and Hagerstown's Blake Schwartz (1-1) each kept the opposing offenses in check until the Suns broke through in the fourth on an RBI single by Matthew Skole. They knotched a second run in the fifth when Adrian Nieto doubled and scored on a single by Brett Newsome.
Black (1-0) stopped Hagerstown there and only allowed two runs in six innings along with four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. He pitched well enough to earn his first win in professional baseball.
The RiverDogs erased their deficit in the bottom of the fifth by rallying for three runs. Ben Gamel brought in the first run by scalding a sacrifice fly to left. Saxon Butler (2-4, 2 RBI) then put his team ahead when he lined a two-run double into right. Culver (1-1, 2 BB, RBI, run) added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make the score 4-2. With a single and two walks, Culver reached base for the 27th consecutive game.
In the eighth, Hagerstown cut the lead to one when a run scored on a double play, but they couldn't tie the game. Nick Goody made sure of that, as he threw a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save.
BALLPARK FUN: Fans headed out to Shoeless Joe's Hill to enjoy a brew in the only place in the Lowcountry where you can have a beer in the sand.
COMING UP: The RiverDogs will give the ball to RHP Brett Gerritse (4-5, 3.89 ERA) to square off against RHP Blake Schwartz (2-4, 4.91 ERA) in game three of this series. Fans who come out to the game wearing red will received $1 off their tickets on General Dynamics Land Systems Force Protection Red Shirt Friday. The three newest members of the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame, Gettys Glaze, Tom Hatley and John Rhodes, will be inducted before the game. Fans will have a chance to win a one-on-one lunch with a RiverDogs' player during a silent Bachelor Auction that will be held during the game. Aluminum pints in the Ashley View Pub will be $3 on MillerCoors Aluminum Pint Nite. The evening will finish up with Piggly Wiggly Postgame Fireworks.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 9, 2012
- Five Homers Send Power to 8-3 Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Culver, Butler Set Down Suns 4-3 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Walk off with Wild 6-5 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Road Woes Continue in Ninth-Inning Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Two Run Ninth Gives Greensboro Victory - Rome Emperors
- 'Claws Win Third Straight, 2-1 over Kannapolis - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Suns Edged by RiverDogs 4-3 - Hagerstown Suns
- Drive and Gnats Postponed Due to Rain - Greenville Drive
- Gnats and Drive Game Postponed Due to Rain on Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Thursday's Game Postponed; Doubleheader Friday - Hickory Crawdads
- Legends Update: Pennant Race Tightens; Individual Record Watch - Lexington Legends
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Kiss-A-Pig Candidates at Appalachian Power Park - Charleston Dirty Birds
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