SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Holmann, Garcia lead RiverDogs past Braves, 7-1

Published on August 31, 2005 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON -- Tim Battle and Mario Holmann each stroked three hits and Christian Garcia pitched seven shutout innings as the Charleston RiverDogs smacked the Rome Braves, 7-1, in South Atlantic League action Wednesday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Garcia (5-6) won for the first time since June 1, allowing six hits and striking out five in the process. Charleston took advantage of three Rome errors and two wild pitches as they won for the third time in four games. The RiverDogs improve to 75-58 on the season while the Braves slip to 71-61. Both teams are 32-32 in the second half.

The 20-year-old right-hander Garcia handed the RiverDogs their second straight night of a starting pitcher throwing seven shutout innings. On the evening, the native of Miami walked four but was helped by some terrific defense behind him. Garcia has pitched 13 shutout innings against Rome this season in two starts. Josh Smith pitched the final two frames and allowed an earned run on three hits while striking out a pair.

Charleston jumped on Rome ace Matt Harrison, whose record dips to 12-7, with three runs in the first inning with Holmann scoring on a wild pitch, Ben Jones' driving an RBI sacrifice fly and Edwar Gonzalez scoring on a throwing error by left fielder Matt Young.

The RiverDogs are now 30-8 in games in which they score first and improve to 63-1 in games in which they lead after eight innings. Charleston has now collected a combined 29 hits and 12 runs the past two games.

The RiverDogs posted a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by Marcos Vechionacci's RBI double, after which he later scored on a throwing error by shortstop Jamie Trejo. In the sixth, Grant Plumley doubled home a run and William Plaza singled home another against reliever Josh Ward.

Rome avoided the shutout by scoring a run in the ninth on J.C. Holt's RBI double to right field with two out that hit the wall.

Both Holmann and Gonzaelz played excellent defense. Holmann twice ranged wide to his left, with the more impressive of the two coming in the top of the seventh on Young's shot between first and second base with the bases loaded. Gonzalez made a diving catch on Greg Creek's short fly to right that ended the Braves' eighth inning, and collected an outfield assist in the second throwing out Ivan Terrazas attempting to advance from first to third on Creek's single.

Battle's run scored in the first inning gave him 91 on the season, one shy of the league lead. He could have added one more later in the game, but was stranded on third base in the eighth inning. Battle also had one extra base hit which gives him 57 on the season, good enough for fifth place among the league leaders.

The fourth and final game of the four-game series is set for Thursday at 7:05 p.m. with Brett Smith (3-2) getting the call for Charleston while Rome sends Charlie Morton (5-9) to the hill.

Thursday is the final home regular-season game for the RiverDogs and serves as Fan Appreciation Night.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 31, 2005


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