Errors, Slow Starts Catch up to RiverDogs in Loss to GreenJackets
April 11, 2017 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC - Three comeback wins and a four-game winning streak can hide some of the shortcomings of a ball club. The RiverDogs committed a season-high four errors and were held to just three hits as their four-game winning streak came to an end with a 7-2 loss to Augusta in front of a crowd of 3,024 on Tuesday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
The RiverDogs (4-2) came into the night with the league's second worst fielding percentage through five games (.950), and added to their total as four Charleston blunders in part helped Augusta out to a 6-2 advantage after four innings, and the GreenJackets (1-5) never looked back.
Charleston once again had to turn to their bullpen earlier than expected as Nick Green (0-2, 9.95) exited after four innings. The right-hander allowed six runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts in his first outing since taking the hill on Opening Night. It was the fifth time in the first six games that the RiverDogs failed to have a starter pitch into the fifth.
The pen once again proved to be a bright spot as the former BYU Cougar Kolton Mahoney posted three scoreless innings to take the RiverDogs through the fifth, sixth, and seventh while allowing just one hit and punching out four. Charleston's bullpen has now allowed just 12 ER in 31.1 innings, good for a 3.45 ERA through six games.
Green got off to a shaky start, walking the first two batters to begin the ballgame before Giants No. 20 prospect Kelvin Beltre cranked a double to dead center that scored two and made it 2-0 GreenJackets after one.
In the second, two RiverDogs errors allowed Augusta to double their lead. A chopper down the line ate up first baseman Brandon Wagner for an error and put Augusta shortstop Brandon Van Horn aboard. After a wild pitch advanced Van Horn, Ashford Fulmer stroked an RBI single to right. Anthony Marks took two bases on the second error of the inning by Wagner that allowed Fulmer to score and push the GreenJackets out to a 4-0 advantage.
Charleston got on the board in the bottom half. With Estevan Florial ahead of him after reaching on a walk, Wagner roped a two-out single into right that made it 4-1.
Beltre collected his third RBI of the ballgame on the first pitch of the third inning, taking a Green fastball to right field for his first home run of the season. It was then 5-1 Augusta.
The RiverDogs cashed in for another in the third when Hoy Jun Park grounded out to drive in Oswaldo Cabrera who led off the inning with a double.
Augusta added insurance off Anyelo Gomez in the ninth. A leadoff walk to Van Horn eventually scored on a bloop double by Marks in left to give the GreenJackets their seventh run.
Stephen Woods, Jr. (1-0, 1.50) pitched six strong for Augusta, allowing two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts, three walks, and three hits allowed to pick up the win.
*Ballpark Fun*
The RiverDogs hosted their first weekly "Trendy Tuesday" presented by Magic 107.3 ad Z93 Jamz as they celebrated some of the wildest, weirdest, and often forgotten viral trends of the internet. Fans took advantage of "Take Me Out Tuesday" ticket specials from Harris Teeter featuring two tickets, dinner, and drinks for just $20 at the gate.
*Upcoming*
The RiverDogs take on the GreenJackets once again in the rubber match of the series on Wednesday night to wrap up the homestand. Charleston will send hard throwing RHP Albert Abreu (0-0, 2.25) to the mound for his first start as Augusta counters with LHP Domenic Mazza (0-1, 23.63). First pitch is set for 7:05pm.
Wednesday is Tony the Peanut Man Night at the ballpark where the club will celebrate the life of Anthony Wright, a beloved ballpark figure and vendor at The Joe who passed away this past offseason. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a Tony commemorative pin courtesy of "Wardrobe Wednesdays" presented by WEZL and ABC News 4.
RiverDogs tickets, including options for the all-new Riley Park Club, are now available and can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com. Those that can't make it to the park can follow every pitch of the RiverDogs season on WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area or by streaming online at riverdogs.com and the TuneIn Radio App by searching "RiverDogs."
South Atlantic League Stories from April 11, 2017
- Franchise Record Scoreless Inning Streak Snapped Tuesday Night - Columbia Fireflies
- Diaz, Abreu Squeeze the Tourists a Win - Asheville Tourists
- Comito Solid for 6.0 Innings in Season Debut - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Errors, Slow Starts Catch up to RiverDogs in Loss to GreenJackets - Charleston RiverDogs
- BlueClaws Drop 15-Inning Heart-Breaker 4-3 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Anderson Dominates in Drive Win Over Legends - Greenville Drive
- Greenville Evens Series with 4-3 Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Columbia Fireflies Roster Move: April 11, 2017 - Columbia Fireflies
- GreenJackets Opening Night SOLD - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Announce 2017 Daily Weekday Promotions - Delmarva Shorebirds
- F&M Bank High School Baseball Classic Opens Friday at Intimidators Stadium - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Intimidators Newsletter: F&M Bank High School Tournament Opens on April 14 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- RiverDogs Come Back Again, Walk-Off to Win Fourth in a Row - Charleston RiverDogs
- Pitching Carries Fireflies in 3-0 Win - Columbia Fireflies
- King Bests Wells, Grasshoppers Inch by Shorebirds - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Early Woes Doom Drive in 12-4 Loss to Legends - Greenville Drive
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