SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Five-run tenth gives RiverDogs series in 7-2 win

Published on August 24, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


AUGUSTA, Ga.- For the second straight game, an offensive outburst by the RiverDogs proved to be the difference, this time coming in the form of a five-run top of the 10th against Augusta to claim a 7-2 victory in South Atlantic League action at Lake Olmstead Stadium Monday evening.

With the win, Charleston wins the three-game series against second-place Augusta improving to 24-30 this half. Augusta drops to 33-23 this half, still 2.5 games behind Asheville for the Southern Division lead.

Corban Joseph singled to lead off the extra frame against reliever Edwin Quirarte and moved to second when Melky Mesa was hit by a pitch. Following a ground out, Addison Maruszak was intentionally walked to load the bases. Newly-inserted first-baseman Tommy Baldridge, who pinch-ran for Neall French in ninth inning, grounded a potentially inning-ending double play to second baseman Juan Perez, but Perez threw wildly to second to give Baldridge the game-winning RBI fielder's choice, which also scored Mesa after the error for a 4-2 score.

Catcher Mitch Abeita grounded a two-run single into centerfield to increase the lead to 6-2, then scored later in the inning on Jose Pirela's RBI knock for the 7-2 eventual final.

The RiverDogs scored the game's first run in third inning off starter Eric Surkamp, when Abraham Almonte increased his hitting streak to a season-high 15 games by lacing an RBI single to left to plate Ray Kruml for a 1-0 lead.

Charleston's lead grew to 2-0 in the fourth, when Maruszak walked with one out, moved to second on a walk to French, stole third and sprinted home on a wild pitch.

Surkamp, in a no-decision, allowed two runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work, while walking four and throwing four wild pitches, but also tying a career-high with 10 strikeouts.

Augusta scored its initial run in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 2-1, when Francisco Peguero doubled to left, advanced to third on a fly out, and scored on a two-out throwing error on Andy D'Alessio's groundball.

The GreenJackets would muster nothing more against Charleston starter Trent Lare, although Lare would have to take a no-decision in an excellent 7.2 innings of four-hit baseball, surrendering one run - unearned - while walking one batter and striking out a season-high tying eight.

The ninth inning would prove to be Augusta's time to rally. After the first two outs were recorded by Chuck Nolte, D'Alessio doubled the first offering into the left-field corner, Perez walked, and Charlie Culberson tied the game at 2-2 with a line single to left field.

After Charleston's offensive heroics in the top of the 10th, Nolte (4-2) managed to pick up the victory penning a scoreless bottom half, while Quirarte (6-2) took the loss after winning game one of the series on Saturday out of the bullpen.

Charleston was paced by two hits each from Almonte and Pirela while Abeita drove home a pair of runs. For Augusta, Peguero went 2-for-4 for his third multi-hit game of the series, while Culberson also contributed two hits.

The RiverDogs are now 7-2 in extra innings games this season

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 24, 2009


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