Junk Breezes, Dogs Roll Past Columbia in Series Opener
June 5, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. -Â Charleston right-hander Janson Junk pounded the strike zone in a career-best performance and a pair of two-run home runs from catcher Eduardo Navas and third baseman Dermis Garcia lifted the RiverDogs to a 5-1 series-opening victory over the Columbia Fireflies on Tuesday night at Spirit Communications Park.
After stretching out over his first three professional starts, Junk (1-1) rolled through the Columbia (28-27) lineup in his longest outing since being drafted in 2017. The Seattle University product fanned a career-best seven over seven strong innings of one-run ball while filling up the zone, throwing a first pitch strike to 21 of the 24 batters he faced and throwing 63 of his 86 pitches for strikes.
The Washington State native was perfect the first time through the lineup and yielded just three hits all night. His biggest mistake resulted in a two-out, solo home run in the seventh from Matt Winaker that temporarily trimmed the lead to 3-1.
The RiverDogs (27-29) broke up the scoreless tie in the fourth. Recently named All-Star outfielder Steven Sensley roped his 15th double of the season to center and scored when fellow All-Star Chris Hess hustled out an infield hit rolled to short that Edgardo Fermin skipped past first to allow Sensley to cross the plate with two outs.
In the seventh, Navas ripped his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to the berm in right field to stretch the Holy City's advantage to 3-0. It marked just the third professional homer in over 220 minor league games and his second at Spirit Communications Park. Left fielder Leonardo Molina doubled with one out in the at-bat prior.
In the eighth, Charleston received some long ball support from a more familiar source when Garcia roped his second of the season, a shot to the left-center alley to plate Sensley who had previously reached on a one-out walk.
Righty Dalton Higgins retired six in a row in relief to secure the victory in the opener of Charleston's six-day Palmetto State road trip.
Hess and Navas each collected multi-hit games in the effort. It was just the second game of the season in 12 meetings with the Fireflies decided by more than two runs. Charleston controls the season series, 7 games to 5.
Upcoming
Charleston continues the series in the Capital City, facing the Fireflies in game two of three on Wednesday night. The RiverDogs will send Citadel product and lefty JP Sears (0-4, 2.25) to the bump to face Columbia right-hander Tony Dibrell (2-2, 3.88). Wednesday's game will be broadcast on 1250 WTMA in the tri-county area, with audio available at riverdogs.com and the RiverDogs TuneIn radio station.
RiverDogs single-game tickets, including options to the Riley Park Club, are now available for the 2018 campaign, the club's 25th season as the RiverDogs and their "175th season in dog years." Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com/tickets.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 5, 2018
- Home Cookin', Tourists Take Care of the Braves - Asheville Tourists
- Early Blasts Fuel 'Hoppers in Opener - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Drive and GreenJackets Split Tuesday's Doubleheader - Greenville Drive
- First-Inning Homers Drop Delmarva - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Junk Breezes, Dogs Roll Past Columbia in Series Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Logan Baldwin's Walk-Off Home Run Wins Game 1 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Winaker Homers in Series Opener on Tuesday - Columbia Fireflies
- 'Dads Slug Their Way to a Pair of Victories over Kannnapolis - Hickory Crawdads
- Suns-BlueClaws Rained out on Tuesday - Hagerstown Suns
- Mitchell and Stafford Named South Atlantic League All-Stars - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Four Fireflies Named to SAL All-Star Team - Columbia Fireflies
- All-Star Worthy, Hess and Sensley to Represent RiverDogs in Greensboro - Charleston RiverDogs
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (June 5) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Fireflies Game Notes: June 5 vs. Charleston (Game 55) - Columbia Fireflies
- Intimidators Welcome MLB's 25th Overall Prospect, Luis Robert, to Kannapolis - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Drive Sending Five Representatives to South Atlantic League All-Star Game - Greenville Drive
- Manuel Geraldo Named SAL Player of the Month - Augusta GreenJackets
- Rome Sends Six Players to All Star Game - Rome Emperors
- South Atlantic League Announces Rosters for 59th Annual All-Star Game - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Raquet, Banks, Anderson Named 2018 SAL All-Stars - Hagerstown Suns
- 8 Intimidators Selected to South Atlantic League All-Star Game - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Three Shorebirds Headed to SAL All-Star Game - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Three Tourists Selected for the South Atlantic League All-Star Game - Asheville Tourists
- Three Crawdads Named to SAL All-Star Team - Hickory Crawdads
- Six BlueClaws Named South Atlantic League All-Stars - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Four Lexington Legends Named to South Atlantic League All-Star Team - Lexington Legends
- Three GreenJackets Named to 2018 All-Star Team - Augusta GreenJackets
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.
