Dogs Flick Sand Gnats on Double Error, 5-3, Win Fifth Straight
September 4, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC- Addison Maruszak sprinted home with the game-winning run in the ninth inning after a double throwing error, as the RiverDogs pulled off a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Savannah front of 5,011 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park Friday evening.
With the victory, Charleston has won five games in a row for the second time this half to improve to 33-33 (72-64 overall), while Savannah has lost five straight to drop to 29-35 (64-70 overall).
Maruszak started the ninth inning with a single off reliever Mike Lynn (0-1), then advanced to second on Garrison Lassiter's sacrifice bunt attempt, but Lassiter was able to reach when Maruszak was called safe at second on the throw from Lynn. The decision resulted in the ejection of Savannah manager Edgar Alfonzo.
With Neall French batting, Savannah tried to execute a pickoff play with catcher Luis Alen throwing back to second, but his throw bounced into centerfield for the first error, then centerfielder Raul Reyes launched his throw into the Sand Gnats dugout allowing Maruszak to score the game-winner. Lynn took the loss surrendering the unearned run on one hit in an inning plus of work.
Gabriel Tatis (3-2) picked up his second win in four games after allowing the game tying RBI single with two outs in the top of the ninth to Jeff Flagg, his first SAL hit and RBI, to tie the game at 2-2 before the RiverDogs won it in the bottom half.
Savannah took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against starter Alan Horne, when Wilmer Flores darted home on a wild pitch after doubling with one out in the frame.
That would be the only run Horne permitted, as the former 11th round pick threw 6.2 innings giving up just four base hits and the one run with three walks and a season-high six punchouts.
Charleston knotted the score at 1-1 in the six against starter Kyle Allen. After loading the bases with no outs, Taylor Grote drew a bases loaded walk to score Jose Pirela. Addison Maruszak then flew out to right field, but Abraham Almonte was thrown out at home by Juan Lagares attempting to score on the sacrifice fly attempt to keep the game tied.
Allen also absorbed a no-decision working five-plus innings of three-hit ball, allowing one unearned run with two walks and six strikeouts.
A run would not score again until the eighth inning, when Pirela scooted home on Corban Joseph's RBI fielder's choice.
Almonte paced Charleston's six-hit attack with a pair of knocks, which increased his hitting streak to a league-high 26 games. Maruszak added a triple, single and the game-winning run. Savannah received two-hits each from Flores and Nick Giarraputo.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 4, 2009
- Rome Gets Walk Off Win in Home Finale - Rome Emperors
- Suns get most from Moore - Hagerstown Suns
- Pellegrini's record-breaking HR sends Legends to 6-4 victory - Lexington Legends
- Hot Rods blow 4-3 lead in ninth to drop series opener against Lexington - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Spain's trio of hits pace Power in victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Tourists Blank Drive, 4-0, to Claim 2nd Half Southern Division Title - Greenville Drive
- Dogs Flick Sand Gnats on Double Error, 5-3, Win Fifth Straight - Charleston RiverDogs
- Six late free passes doom Kannapolis, 2-1 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Crawdads come back for 2-1 win in 10 in Kannapolis - Hickory Crawdads
- Tourists Shutout Drive for Playoff Berth - Asheville Tourists
- Rome Deals Key Blow in 5-4 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- BlueClaws Belt 16 Hits in Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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