Sports stats



SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Drive Burn Rubber, Sweep RiverDogs, 5-4

June 28, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Former Citadel standout and James Island native Chris McGuiness' RBI double in the seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie in leading the Greenville Drive to a 5-4 victory over the Charleston RiverDogs in front 3,586 fans in South Atlantic League action at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park Monday night.

With the victory, Greenville climbs to 5-0 in the second half and 41-34 overall having won six straight games. Charleston drops its ninth straight game, tying the club's longest skid since May 2006, falling to 0-4 in the second half and 31-42 overall.

Greenville reliever Tom Ebert (6-1) took over for Drake Britton following a one hour, 18 minute rain delay in the bottom of the second, and the former Florida International standout went 5.2 innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs, with five strikeouts. Jordan Flasher penned the final 2.0 innings with four punchouts to notch his second save.

Greenville wasted little time getting the board, when a Jimmy Parades fielding error allowed Derrik Gibson to score from second, giving Greenville a 1-0 lead. Gibson blooped a single over Parades to reach first and stole second to move into scoring position.

Charleston responded in the bottom of the second on Neil Medchill's first SAL home run over the left-centerfield wall to knot the contest at 1-1.

Hector Rabago's sac fly followed the one hour and 18 minute rain delay, which scored Kyle Higashioka from third, giving Charleston a one run lead, 2-1. Higashioka doubled to center after Medchill's homer and moved to third on a Drake Britton passed ball.

The Drive bounced back in the top of the fourth, when Shannon Wilkerson moved from first to third on a Vladimir Frias single of Charleston reliever Gabriel Tatis through the gap at shortstop. Medchill's error fielding the ball in left-center allowed Frias to move to second and Wilkerson to score, tying the game at 2-2.

After stealing third, Frias scored on Zach Gentile's sacrifice fly, giving Greenville a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.

Tatis walked Gibson and gave up a single to former McGuiness to open the fifth. Ronald Bermudez was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Wilkerson. Wilkerson's sacrifice fly plated Gibson from third, making the score 4-2 going into the bottom of the fifth.

Higashioka ripped a single to opened the bottom half, and DeAngelo Mack belted a 2-2 Ebert pitch over the right field wall for his fifth homer of the season to retie the game at 4-4.

McGuiness' broke the tie in the top of the seventh with his double to right that plated Gibson from second. Gibson walked to open the frame and moved into scoring position on a balk by Dickson Marquez.

Marquez (0-4) takes the loss for Charleston, surrendering one hit and the go-ahead run, with one strikeout in 2.1 innings of work.

Charleston starter Sean Black hurled 2.0 innings before the rain delay with two walks and three strikeouts.

Higashioka posted his 11th multi-hit game of season for the RiverDogs, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs, while Mack also had a pair of knocks.

Charleston hits the road for a five-game series against the Augusta GreenJackets, a San Francisco Giants affiliate. The first game of this series is set for Tuesday at 7:05 p.m., with Charleston pitching right-hander Jairo Heredia (2-1, 4.50) and Augusta countering with right-hander Chris Heston (2-8, 5.43).

FUN AT THE BALLPARK: He may live in a pineapple under the sea, but tonight SpongeBob SquarePants came down to Riley Park to entertain fans prior to the game. The Bikini Bottom native was on hand for Monday night's game, taking picture with his adoring fans in the concourse throughout the evening. It was also Dogs with a Cause night with the Charleston Animal Society, who even brought some furry friends along for fans to pet and play with. In addition to Dogs with a Cause and SpongeBob, it was also another 98X Hair of the Dog Monday. Fans extended their weekends with $1 beers in the Ashley View Pub.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...

South Atlantic League Stories from June 28, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central