Dogs Score Early, Not Often, in 3-2 Victory Over Greensboro
September 5, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC -- All five runs in Sunday's contest between Charleston and Greensboro were scored in the first inning, and the RiverDogs hung on for a 3-2 triumph over the Grasshoppers in front of 4,091 fans in South Atlantic League action on Sunday evening at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
With the win, Charleston posts consecutive wins in improving to 33-36, 64-74 overall, while Greensboro dropped to 34-35, 66-73 overall.
Greensboro ended Charleston's bid for consecutive shutouts early, putting up two runs in the first against right-hander Richard Martinez, who was making his SAL debut. Rand Smith walked to open the game, moved to third on Jose Torres' single to right before coming on Jose Duarte's RBI groundout. Christian Yelich boosted the lead to 2-0 with his RBI single through the hole at shortstop that plated Torres.
Charleston wasted little time responding, hanging up a four-hit, three-run frame in the bottom of the first. Slade Heathcott ripped his 15th double of the season to open the frame for the RiverDogs. A wild pitch from Greensboro's Chad James to Emerson Landoni allowed Heathcott to move to third. Landoni, who notched his first career grand slam the night before, still showed a hot bat with a RBI single up the middle to score Heathcott, cutting the lead to one run at 2-1.
Landoni stole his 12th and 13th bags of the year to move all the way to third with Luke Murton at the plate. Murton responded with a single down the left-field line to knot the score up at 2-2, while increasing his hitting streak to 10 games. After stealing second for just his second steal of the season, Murton crossed home plate thanks to Neil Medchill's RBI double, his 10th of the season, to right-centerfield, giving Charleston a 3-2 advantage going into the second.
Neither team would score again, resulting in Martinez (1-0) getting his first victory, giving up five hits and two earned runs, with four strikeouts, in 5.0 total innings. After surrendering two hits and two runs in the top of the first, the Venezuela native tossed 4.0 scoreless innings with just three hits permitted. Jose Quintana worked 2.0 scoreless innings, while Francisco Gil notched his ninth save of the season retiring all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings with three strikeouts.
James (5-10) lost for the first time in four starts, allowing eight hits and three runs in 6.0 innings. The 18th overall pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft did not surrender another run after the first, combining with right-hander Arquimedes Caminero to blank the RiverDogs.
Landoni registered his sixth three-hit game of the year to pace Charleston's nine-hit attack, while Heathcott had two hits and a stolen base. The victory for the RiverDogs over southpaw James improved the team's record to 10-4 in the last 14 meetings against left-handers.
The final of the four-game series between the RiverDogs and the Grasshoppers and final game of the 2010 season is at 6:05 p.m., with Charleston sending right-hander Shane Greene (0-2, 6.59) to the mound while Greensboro counters with southpaw Edgar Olmos (3-9, 4.65)
RIVERDOGS- BALLPARK FUN: It was the team's final Charleston County Parks & Recreation Family Sunday at the ballpark. Fans got to The Joe early to receive free t-shirts for the young ones courtesy of Vapor Apparel. Fans also took part in family catch on the field and even took in a good book with Reading with the RiverDogs with Charleston pitcher Ryan Acosta. It was all presented by CCPRC, Vapor Apparel and 95.9 Charleston's Greatest Hits.
UP NEXT: It's the final game of the 2010 season and the RiverDogs are putting their paws together to give our fans the round of applause they deserve with SC Blue Store Fan Appreciation Day! All "Be Your Own Fans!" can win prizes like autographed jerseys, 2011 season tickets and even cash. Plus, it's Dogs with a Cause night featuring Rein and Shine. Celebrate your Labor Day with the RiverDogs and another Hair of the Dog Monday featuring $1 beers and $1.50 mini hot dogs in the Ashley View Pub. Don't forget to get here early because it's a special 6:05 first pitch!
South Atlantic League Stories from September 5, 2010
- Crawdads Stop Drive with 4-3 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Vargas Drives in Three, Leads Intimidators to 4-2 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Gnats Eliminate Tourists with 5-1 Win Sunday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Vargas Singles Intimidators to Win in 10th 4-2 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Drive Clinch 2nd Half Southern Division Title - Greenville Drive
- Power Lifted by Walk-Off Homer in Extra Frame - Hagerstown Suns
- Shriner Home Run Powers GreenJackets to 3-2 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Dogs Score Early, Not Often, in 3-2 Victory Over Greensboro - Charleston RiverDogs
- Power Short Circuit Hagerstown 4-3 on Sunday - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Ninth Inning Homer Seals Third Straight Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Legends Top Braves 9-3 as Goebbert Breaks RBI Mark - Lexington Legends
- Marshall Promoted to Tampa; Martinez Transferred to Charleston - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes: Sunday, September 5 Vs. Asheville - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Keep Celebrating After the Season with the RiverDogs - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Suns See Power Outage, Shut out in Game 2 - Hagerstown Suns
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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