SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Matzek Helps Send Tourists to 5-4 Win Over 'Dogs

Published on September 1, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - Tyler Matzek authored 7.0 strong innings as the Asheville Tourists overcame an early three-run deficit to down the Charleston RiverDogs, 5-4, in South Atlantic League action Thursday night in front of a crowd of 5,091 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Asheville upped its mark to 37-29 this half and 68-67 overall with the victory, while Charleston regressed to 26-40 and 52-84.

Charleston reaped the benefits of an error and Matzek (5-4) spotty control to forge a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

A Ramon Flores single and walks from Kelvin De Leon and Kevin Mahoney loaded the bases with two outs for Jose Mojica. Matzek looked to be out of harm's way when he induced a check-swing roller from Mojica, but all three runners scampered home instead as Helder Velazquez could not handle the throw at first base.

Asheville got a marker back in the second as Chandler Laurent clubbed a double off RiverDogs' hurler Mike Gipson and crossed the plate on a wild pitch two batters later to make the score 3-1.

The Tourists then scratched out a pair of runs to even the tally at 3-3 in the fifth. Rafael Ortega singled and moved into scoring position by swiping his team-leading 32nd bag of the year. Cristhian Adames then delivered him home with a RBI single through the box, trimming the deficit to one.

Gipson made a pretty play to retire Corey Dickerson on a groundball up the third base line, but that was enough to score another run and tie the game. The Florida Atlantic product matched a season-long outing in going 5.0 frames, while allowing the three runs on nine hits and sprinkling in two strikeouts.

Despite walking two batters, Charleston reliever Francisco Rondon (2-3) navigated his way through the inning unscathed. The tall southpaw did not have the same luck in the seventh, though, as he issued three more free passes to help the Tourists assume a 4-3 advantage.

Adames walked to start the wheels churning, and Kyle Parker and Dickerson followed suit to fill the sacs once more. Rondon was then lifted for Kelvin Perez, who surrendered a sacrifice fly to Dustin Garneau to push Asheville in front for the first time of the contest at 4-3.

Matzek was without the dominating stuff that enabled him to punch out a career-high 13 men his last time out, but he continued his renaissance second half with 7.0 solid innings of work. The 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft allowed only two hits and four walks, while striking out two.

Control was an issue for Perez as well in the eighth, as the Tourists plated an insurance run to advance the lead to 5-3. A pair of walks set the table for Adames, who rapped a sharp groundball RBI single past the second base bag to drive home Velazquez from second.

One swing from Mahoney turned it back into a one-run game, as the Charleston first baseman connected for a long solo drive over the right field fence. It was the third round-tripper of the season for Mahoney, making the score 5-4.

That was as close as Charleston would get, though, as Bruce Kern secured his ninth save of the year by striking out De Leon to end it and keep Asheville in the race for the 2nd half Southern Division pennant.

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South Atlantic League Stories from September 1, 2011


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