SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Kleinknecht's Clout Lifts Rome To 6-1 Triumph Over Charleston

Published on April 17, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - Barrett Kleinknecht pounded a grand slam home run off the left field foul pole in the third inning to lead the Rome Braves over the Charleston RiverDogs, 6-1, in South Atlantic League action Sunday night in front of a crowd of 5,143 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Rome snapped a two-game losing skein to move to 4-7 while Charleston saw its two-game winning streak come to an end in falling to 5-6.

Braves' southpaw starter Carlos Perez (1-1) had the RiverDogs tied in knots for most of the evening. The No. 11 prospect in the Atlanta system, according to Baseball America, worked quickly and utilized a sharp curveball to quiet the SAL's leading offense. Perez struck out the side twice en route to a career-high tally of nine and allowed just three base runners over his final five frames.

The 19-year old Dominican compiled a stellar final line in collecting his first SAL win, penning 6.0 scoreless innings while permitting four hits and a walk.

The Braves struck for a run in the top of the first for the second straight night, as RiverDogs' starter Shane Greene (1-2) struggled to gain his command. Matt Lipka drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third base on a pair of wild pitches before coming home to score on a line drive RBI single to left by catcher Jace Whitmer.

Rome used a patient approach to forge a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Keenan Wiley walked and was sent plateward three batters later on a bases-loaded RBI groundout by Lipka.

Kleinknecht's grand slam round tripper broke the contest open in the third, as the Braves took command with a 6-0 advantage. Rome filled the sacks on the benefit of a single, a throwing error and another free pass but Greene was still one out away from wiggling out of the jam unscathed. Kleinknecht spoiled those plans, though, jolting a 0-1 offering off the left-field foul pole for his second home run of the season.

Greene rediscovered his form after the grand slam to retire the final ten hitters he faced, including three via strikeout. The ace right-hander also matched his season-long outing in lasting six innings while yielding six runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks.

Ramon Flores tagged a RBI single to right field off Braves' reliever Chasen Shreve in the last of the eighth inning, driving in Slade Heatchott to cut the RiverDogs' deficit to 6-1. That was all Charleston would muster as Shreve recovered to lock up his first save of the year in 3.0 relief innings.

The RiverDogs and Braves wrap up the four-game set Monday in a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Left-hander Nik Turley (1-1, 7.27 ERA) will climb the hill for Charleston versus right-hander Caleb Brewer (0-1, 1.54 ERA) of Rome.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 17, 2011


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