SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Lyerly's Longball Leads R'Dogs Over GreenJackets

Published on July 14, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Rob Lyerly's two-run shot over the left-field wall in the bottom of the ninth led the Charleston RiverDogs to 3-1 walkoff win over the Augusta GreenJackets in front of 2,509 fans in South Atlantic League action at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on Wednesday night.

With the victory, Charleston collects its eighth walkoff win of the year in improving to 9-11 and 40-49 overall, winning three of their last four. Augusta falls to 10-10 and 51-39 overall.

A 1-1 tie lasted all the way to the ninth inning, when J.R. Murphy reached first on a one-out walk from Augusta's Wilmin Rodriguez (1-2). Lyerly came to the bat and crushed a 1-2 pitch barely over the wall for his third circuit clout of the year and the 3-1 triumph. It marked the first walkoff home run for Charleston since Austin Krum's ninth-inning blast against Asheville on July 29, 2008.

The two clubs combined for just two hits and no runs through 4.0 complete innings before Augusta's Tommy Joseph belted his 12th homer of the year over the left field wall off Charleston's Ronny Marte. Joseph's shot gave the GreenJackets a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth.

Lyerly doubled off the glove of Chris Dominguez at third to open the bottom half and advanced to third on Kyle Higashioka's groundout. With two outs, Francisco Santana lifted his first RBI triple of the year off the top of the left-field wall, knotting the score back at 1-1.

Augusta loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the ninth against Ryan Acosta, but Evan Crawford flew out to centerfield on the first pitch to end the threat.

In his second spot start of the year, Marte lasted a season-high 6.0 innings, surrendering five hits and one earned run. The Dominican right-hander walked one and fanned two in taking the no-decision.

Augusta starter Jorge Bucardo gave up six hits and one earned run with four strikeouts, in 7.0 innings on the mound in taking the no-decision.

Lyerly and Higashioka finished with two hits each, as the RiverDogs have won seven of the last nine games against the GreenJackets

Game two of this five-game series is set for Thursday at 7:05 p.m., with Charleston sending right-hander Michael Solbach (2-2, 3.24) to the mound, while Augusta counters with right-hander Andy Reichard (1-0, 3.64).

BALLPARK FUN: What do you like on your grits? That's the question the RiverDogs asked fans all game long. The RiverDogs' faithful pleased their palates, tasting grits from the all the city. The fans ultimately decided that Poogan's Porch had the best grits in town. It was also another Wild Wednesday at Riley Park. Fans got more bang for their buck, enjoying the Mexican fare at the ballpark with $20 all-you-can-eat tickets.

Prior to the first pitch, the Yankees Single-A affiliate held a moment of silence to remember legendary New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who passed away Tuesday.

UP NEXT: It's another Budweiser Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark. Fans can get the weekend started early with $1 beers in the Ashley View Pub. It's also Disability Awareness Night and AT&T Real Yellow Pages Night.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 14, 2010


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