SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Hickory Docks Charleston, 4-1

Published on July 15, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Three Hickory pitchers combined to limit Charleston to only four hits as the Crawdads docked the RiverDogs, 4-1, in South Atlantic League action Wednesday night in front of 3,355 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

With the victory, the Crawdads secure at least a split in this four-game series and improve their second half record to 12-7 (45-43 overall) while the RiverDogs fall to 8-12 (47-43).

With his fastball topping out at 97 mph, Crawdads starter Wilmer Font (6-1) earned the win after he held the RiverDogs scoreless over 5.2 fames while scattering two hits, three walks and striking out four.

Hickory relievers Cody Epply and Tyler Tufts combined to throw the final 3.1 innings and allowed a run on two hits while striking out two.

Hickory seized an early 3-0 advantage in the top of the first when Jared Bolden reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and third, and scampered home on catcher Chase Weems' throwing error that sailed into left field. Following a walk to Matthew West, former Clemson standout Doug Hogan hammered his 12th home run of the season, a two-run blast over the center field wall that came off Charleston starter Manny Banuelos.

The game marked Banuelos' first outing since being named to the World Futures roster of the 2009 MLB's Futures Game that was held on Sunday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis as part of the All-Star Game's festivities.

The Crawdads added their fourth run in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Leonel De Los Santos.

Charleston staged a one-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to spoil Hickory's shutout bid when Melky Mesa was hit by a pitch and moved to third on Addison Maruszak's double down the left field line. With one out, Taylor Grote plated Mesa with a groundout to first.

Banuelos (7-4) suffered the defeat after he was charged with three earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out five in five full innings. Relievers Brad Rulon and Gabriel Tatis, who was making his RiverDogs debut, finished the final four innings and combined to permit one run on three hits. Rulon, from Georgia Tech, fanned five of the 13 batters he faced and collectively the three Charleston pitchers struck out 11 hitters.

Of the RiverDogs four hits, two were infield hits, and of the seven stranded batters, five were left in scoring position. The Crawdads totaled 10 base knocks and were led by Michael Hollander's three hits while Hogan and De Los Santos each contributed two.

In the series finale, that is set for Thursday at 7:05 p.m., the RiverDogs send right-hander Brett Marshall (3-5, 5.47 ERA) to the hill while the Crawdads oppose with southpaw Martin Perez (4-5, 2.60 ERA). Charleston continues this eight-game homestand by hosting Kannapolis in a four-game block that runs Friday through Monday.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 15, 2009


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