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SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Dogs Cough up Late Lead, Spoiling Mauricio's Six Shutout and a Series Sweep

August 17, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


SALISBURY, Md. - A Shorebirds eighth inning rally spoiled a sterling performance by RiverDogs starter Alex Mauricio, who threw six scoreless innings for the second start in a row in Delmarva, as the RiverDogs came up a game short of a three-game sweep with a 4-2 defeat on Friday night at Perdue Stadium.

Mauricio extended his scoreless innings streak against the Shorebirds (60-59, 25-27) to 12 in a row. The Norfolk State product had turned in six shutout in Salisbury only two weeks prior. The 21-year-old continued his turnaround with the Dogs (56-64, 23-29), marking his third straight outing allowing two runs or fewer, lowering his ERA to 5.81 after being roughed up in his first three outings after a call up from Staten Island. Despite the 12 scoreless frames, Mauricio finished with just a pair of no-decisions against the 'Birds lineup this year.

Trailing 2-0 headed to the bottom of the eighth, former Braves farmhand Jean Carlos Encarnacion gave Delmarva their first lead of the night with one swing of the bat, a three-run shot to deep left field. It was the second homer of the season for the 20-year-old since coming over to the Orioles in the Kevin Gausman trade and the 12th overall on the year between Delmarva and Rome. Orioles No. 10 prospect Cadyn Grenier tacked onto the lead with a deep fly off the glove of Carlos Vidal three batters later, ruled an error.

Dalton Higgins (5-5) yielded the go-ahead blast, the Texas native's second straight losing decision with a home run allowed. The Dallas Baptist product had kept the ball in the ballpark over his first 45-plus innings to start the season with Charleston.

The RiverDogs offense got to DL Hall for a pair of early runs. Carlos Vidal and Dermis Garcia each drilled doubles to get the Holy City on the board in the first. Garcia finished the three-game series going 4-for-12 with four RBI. Third baseman Welfrin Mateo connected for a two-out single that plated Charleston's only other run in the second.

Left-hander Nick Vespi (5-5) scattered just a pair of hits over innings six to eight and righty Timothy Naughton stranded the tying run at second for his fifth save as part of a scoreless ninth.

After the six scoreless frames from Mauricio, Charleston starters have produced a 1.78 ERA over the last 14 games, a stretch where the Dogs are just 6-8. With the win in their final meeting against Charleston, the O's affiliate clinched the season series, 7-6.

Upcoming

The RiverDogs cast off for the second-leg of their road trip, opening a four-game set with the West Virginia Power on Saturday night at 6:05 in Charleston North. Dogs 18-year-old right-hander Roansy Contreras (0-2, 3.22) will toe the slab; the Dominican Republic teenager is currently ranked as the Yankees' No. 19 prospect by MLB.com. West Virginia will throw righty Sergio Cubilete (4-5, 5.22). The Pirates prospect last faced Charleston on April 17 at The Joe when he was knocked out of the game by a comebacker off his head without recording an out.

Saturday's contest can be tuned into on "The Big Talker" WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area and with online streaming audio via the RiverDogs' TuneIn radio station. Pregame coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. with "Saturday Dog Talk."

RiverDogs single-game tickets, including options to the Riley Park Club, are available for the remainder of the 2018 campaign, the club's 25th season as the RiverDogs and their "175th season in dog years." Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com.

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