Martinez Turns in Seven Strong, RiverDogs Blank Lexington in Series Finale
June 2, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Right-hander Nolan Martinez answered the call for the second straight Sunday and delivered for the RiverDogs, turning in a career-best seven shutout innings as Charleston blanked the Lexington Legends, 5-0, to force a series split on Sunday afternoon at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
Martinez (1-0) continued to impress in his newfound role in the starting rotation. After making his season debut in relief, he worked an economical 5 2/3 innings, needing only 74 pitches and allowing just one earned run last Sunday against Columbia. In his first outing on the road, he took it a step even further, marching through the seventh inning for the first time in his career and using a deceptive fastball-curveball mix to strike out four Legends hitters, allowing just four total baserunners in the outing.
The RiverDogs (30-26) took advantage of several Lexington (26-28) mistakes, including three errors in the contest, to back Martinez's terrific effort. In the third, centerfielder Brandon Lockridge reached on a two-out walk and used his wheels to go first to third on a Kyle Gray single before eventually scoring on a passed ball, the only run southpaw Evan Steele (0-1) would allow in four innings to take the loss. Lockridge went 0-for-3, but with a pair of walks extended his on-base streak to 20 consecutive games.
Charleston capitalized on two Legends errors in the fifth to push another pair across. After a one-out misplay at second allowed Gray to reach and put runners at the corners, left fielder Canaan Smith put a ball in play for a ground out that scored a run to make it 2-0 Charleston. A wild pitch from reliever Yohonse Morel scored another to extend the lead to 3-0.
In the sixth, third baseman Max Burt rocketed a leadoff home run out to left, his third in four days in Lexington. The Northeastern product now has hit all five of his home runs with Charleston since returning from Extended Spring Training on May 16.
Smith collected his 20th RBI of the season, but failed to reach base, ending his on-base streak at 19 straight games.
Aaron McGarity worked the final two innings to finish off Charleston's fourth shutout win of the season.
Upcoming
The RiverDogs head to Greensboro for a three-game series with the Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh Pirates) starting on Monday night at First National Bank Field. In the opener, the RiverDogs will send their proverbial ace Luis Gil (2-3, 1.93) to the mound. The 20-year-old right-hander turned in a bounce back outing his last time out, going five scoreless frames against Columbia on Tuesday at The Joe, one start removed from allowing seven runs in four innings of work in Asheville the week prior. Greensboro will counter with righty Brad Case (7-1, 2.21), who ranks sixth in the league among qualifying pitchers in ERA entering play on Sunday. His seven wins are tops in the South Atlantic League circuit. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m.
Catch the game on WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area and online streaming on the TuneIn Radio app. Fans can "Make Fun" with the RiverDogs all season long down at The Joe. Single-game tickets, including options to the Riley Park Club, are available at riverdogs.com/tickets or by contacting the RiverDogs front office at 843-577-3647 (DOGS). A full schedule and list of game times for the 2019 season is available at riverdogs.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 2, 2019
- Hagerstown Takes Series with 5-4 Win over Rome - Rome Emperors
- Drive Squeak by 'Birds in Tenth - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Drive Walk off on Delmarva, 4-3, in 10 Innings - Greenville Drive
- Suns Use Late Rally to Clinch Series - Hagerstown Suns
- Vientos Doubles in Finale Defeat - Columbia Fireflies
- Moyers Shines as Power Holds on for 5-4 Win - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Martinez Turns in Seven Strong, RiverDogs Blank Lexington in Series Finale - Charleston RiverDogs
- Tourists Settle for Split After One-Run Loss - Asheville Tourists
- GreenJackets Get Redemption, Take Series from Columbia - Augusta GreenJackets
- Legends Split Series with RiverDogs - Lexington Legends
- Fireflies Game Notes: June 2 vs. Augusta (Game 56) - Columbia Fireflies
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Game Notes (June 2) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns Defeat Braves 2-1 in Pitchers Duel - Rome Emperors
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