Drive Ease Past RiverDogs in Doubleheader Sweep
Published on August 23, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Greenville overcame a two-run deficit in game one before breezing to a shutout victory in game two, as the Drive delivered a doubleheader sweep of the Charleston RiverDogs in South Atlantic League action Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 3,282 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
The victories move Greenville to 32-26 this half and 70-58 overall, while Charleston is now 23-35 and 49-79 and has lost four straight.
Charleston's Vidal Nuno and Greenville's Keith Couch hooked up in a dandy of a pitcher's duel in the opener of the doubleheader.
Nuno was particularly effective over the first three frames, lulling the Drive bats to sleep while collecting two strikeouts en route to a perfect opening run through the batting order.
Couch worked his way in and out of trouble to match Nuno zero for zero through the first three innings, but could not navigate his way past the fourth unblemished.
An error opened the door for the RiverDogs to forge a 2-0 advantage in that inning, as Drive second baseman Sean Coyle dropped a Mike Ferraro pop up. Anderson Feliz was next, and launched a majestic two-run blast over the center field batter's eye for his sixth round tripper of the year.
After being mostly dormant against Nuno early, the Drive revved its engine to knot the tally at 2 apiece in the top of the fifth. Xander Bogaerts clubbed a double off the base of the left field fence, and made the easy trot to the plate when Henry Ramos powered his fifth long ball of the season just clear of the left-center field wall.
Couch was sharp in five innings of work, yielding the two runs on four hits and a walk while fanning four men.
Nuno earned a no-decision as well, turning in a solid performance in his fifth start with the RiverDogs. The former independent leaguer permitted the two runs on five hits, notching three strikeouts in the process without walking a single batter.
Aaron Dott (2-1) came out of the Charleston bullpen in the seventh, and the normally reliable left-hander succumbed to the Greenville offense as the RiverDogs fell behind, 5-2.
Bogaerts and Ramos singled in front of Michael Almanzar, who pumped a three-run bomb over the left-center field fence for the 5-2 cushion.
The three-run outburst made a winner of Andrew Jones (1-1), who spun two scoreless innings out of the Greenville bullpen.
The Drive wasted no time in taking the upper hand in game two, as Brandon Jacobs singled and raced plateward on Drew Hedman's RBI double for a 1-0 advantage.
Greenville kicked into high gear to take a commanding 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second off Charleston hurler Nathan Forer (2-7).
Coyle produced the first tally with a RBI single, and a throwing error by RiverDogs' center fielder Mike Ferraro allowed a second run to scamper home for a 3-0 cushion. Greenville then cracked its third long ball of the twin bill to move in front, 5-0 on a no-doubt two-run clout off the bat of Jacobs.
Forer lasted only 2.2 innings in his seventh start of the season, allowing the five runs on four hits and two walks while managing to fan one.
Scott Swinson (4-4) was on cruise control from the outset, silencing the Charleston offense completely. A non-drafted free agent in 2010, Swinson set down the first 17 batters he faced before Wes Wilson chopped a groundball single into left in his RiverDogs debut. Swinson was removed following the hit, as four of his 17 outs came via the strikeout.
Charle Rosario put the capper on the doubleheader sweep, preserving the 5-0 shutout with 1.1 innings of shutout work out of the Drive bullpen.
BALLPARK FUN: Members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets made their way down Fishburne Street from The Citadel's historic campus to take in the doubleheader and take advantage of great food and drink specials. Prior to first pitch, fans were treated to a moving tribute to The Citadel's late legendary former baseball coach, Chal Port, as a moment of silence was observed in his memory. During the game, The Citadel's upperclassmen outdid the freshmen, known locally as knobs, in a bout of tug of war. It was also another KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets: Buy one ticket, get one free from KRAFT Singles. Bring a package wrapper to Riley Park on Tuesdays for a steal of a deal, so visit kraftsingles.com for more information as exclusions apply.
UP NEXT: The RiverDogs and Drive return to the diamond for game three of this four-game set on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Manny Barreda (4-2, 3.80 ERA) is prepared to head to the apex of the diamond for Charleston, versus fellow right-hander Miguel Celestino (9-5, 3.97 ERA) of the Red Sox affiliate.
Hungry fans can get their bellies full as the 'Dogs and Drive do battle once again. For just $20, one gets a ticket to the game as well as the pleasure of sampling The Joe's famous hot dogs on an all-you-can-eat basis. The frankfurters will be accompanied by 8-10 toppings, potato salad, baked beans, chips and a variety of all-you-can-drink selections (beer included). The RiverDogs may be young on the field, but older fans won't be left out in the cold as SENIORS EAT FREE. All patrons 65 and older will receive a complementary hot dog, chips and soda, courtesy of Pepsi.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 23, 2011
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- Suns Heat up for 13-8 Win Against 'Dads - Hickory Crawdads
- Pena's Slam, Nash's 5 RBI Send Legends Past Tourists 13-5 - Lexington Legends
- BlueClaws Shutout Shorebirds 3-0 in Game Two - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Drive Drown 'Dogs in Doubleheader Sweep - Greenville Drive
- Drive Ease Past RiverDogs in Doubleheader Sweep - Charleston RiverDogs
- BlueClaws Shutout Shorebirds 3-0 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Dominant Performance by Kempf Silences First Place Savannah - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Game Notes: Tuesday, August 23 at Rome - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Kahnle Reinstated from 7-Day DL - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Release Schedule for 2012 Season - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tourists Hold on to Beat Legends 5-4 - Lexington Legends
- Crawdads Top Strasburg and Suns, 3-1 - Hickory Crawdads
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