SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Feliz Flourishes Again as 'Dogs Defeat Legends, 8-3

Published on July 21, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - Anderson Feliz went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI knocks to lead the Charleston RiverDogs over the Lexington Legends, 8-3, in South Atlantic League action Thursday night in front of a crowd of 4,491 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Charleston won its second in a row and fourth straight home game for the first time since July of 2010 in improving to 13-14 this half and 39-58 overall, while Lexington fell to 10-17 and 45-52.

Lexington's Ruben Alaniz (5-8) and Charleston's Zach Nuding (7-6) were both on top of their games, as the fellow Texans locked horns in a pitcher's duel.

Alaniz struck out four and limited the RiverDogs to just one hit through the opening three innings, while Nuding yielded only two hits during the same span, as the game remained scoreless into the fourth.

Ben Heath staked the Legends to a 1-0 lead with a towering solo homer over the left-field fence for his second long ball of the campaign.

Charleston solved Alaniz in the fifth, striking for three tallies on three hits, a walk, and a Lexington error to move in front, 3-1.

Kevin Mahoney started the rally with a walk and moved to second on a single by Shane Brown, who was making his RiverDogs debut. Kelvin De Leon then reached on a terrific bunt single down the third base line, and a throwing error by Mike Kvasnicka sent Mahoney home to even the score at 1-1.

The RiverDogs then surged in front a batter later, as Feliz chopped a RBI single through the middle. Jose Mojica capped the scoring out of the number nine hole, registering a RBI groundout to up the advantage to 3-1.

Nuding was able to benefit from the outburst, permitting only the one run over 5.0 superb frames, scattering three hits and two walks and notching one strikeout.

The RiverDogs tacked on two more runs off Alaniz in the bottom of the sixth to take control with a four-run cushion.

Ramon Flores swatted his tenth jack of the season to straight-away right field for a 4-1 Charleston lead. Gary Sanchez and Mahoney kept the line moving with singles, and De Leon sent Sanchez scurrying to the plate with a sacrifice fly to the centerfield warning track, extending the lead to 5-1.

Kelvin Perez threw up a zero out of the RiverDogs bullpen in the sixth, but allowed the Legends to inch one score closer at 5-2 in the seventh. Delino DeShields, Jr. stroked his third single of the contest to score Ben Orloff, who also singled.

Alaniz was roughed up in a relief appearance against Charleston back on April 9, and struggled once more after mowing down Charleston early. The 20-year old righty gave up the five runs on eight hits, while fanning six.

Aaron Dott entered in place of Perez for the bottom of the eighth inning, and ran into trouble. Kvasnicka ripped a double down the left-field line and came in to make it 5-3 on a fielding error by Mojica at shortstop. Enrique Hernandez followed with a single to put men at first and second for Emilio King, but Dott escaped further harm by inducing a 3-6-3 double play.

Charleston provided Dott with ample insurance with a three-run bottom of the eighth. Brown worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a single by De Leon and crossed the plate on Feliz's bloop RBI double, which was misplayed when Hernandez lost track of the ball in the lights. With the infield drawn in, Garrison Lassiter put the cherry on top with a two-run single over the second base bag.

Dott preserved the 8-3 final outcome with a scoreless ninth inning courtesy of another double play to record his second save of the year.

BALLPARK FUN: In addition to the always eventful Budweiser Thirsty Thursday activities, the RiverDogs hosted the 9th annual Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Night. Area attorneys received credit hours by taking in a presentation from South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal, before enjoying a pregame picnic. The heat was at full blast, but fans refreshed themselves with $1 beers in the Ashley View Pub and fresh music courtesy of the stylings of DJ Natty Heavy. Taco Bell Can of Corn was just one of many in-between inning promotions that kept the excitement alive and Kelly G from 95 SX's hit show Two Guys and a Girl was also in attendance meeting and greeting fans throughout the night.

UP NEXT: The RiverDogs and Legends square off in the finale of their three-game set on Friday at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Nathan Forer (1-4, 4.50 ERA) is set to head to the summit of the diamond for Charleston, versus southpaw Luis Cruz (1-2, 4.27 ERA) of the Houston Astros affiliate.

Youngsters who learned the techniques of hitting from the Yankees of tomorrow will be honored in a pregame ceremony as a reward for their hard work during the clinic. Force Protection Industries, Inc. Red Shirt Fridays allows you to "Be Your Own Fan" of the military while lending a hand to members of our armed forces. All patrons wearing a red shirt to the game will blend in with the players on the field and receive a $1 off their ticket. If you're feeling charitable, you may donate that dollar to a military family with parents fighting overseas. Nothing says summer like fireworks, and Piggly Wiggly Postgame Fireworks light up the night sky and usher in a weekend of RiverDogs baseball.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from July 21, 2011


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