Molina Clears the Bases as RiverDogs Hang on to Clip Crawdads
May 25, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
HICKORY, N.C. - Centerfielder Leonardo Molina ripped a bases-clearing triple to break a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning and Kyle Zurak recorded a four-out save to hold off a late Crawdads rally as the Charleston RiverDogs hung on to win, 8-7, in Friday night's series opener at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Charleston (21-25) matched a season-high by whacking 15 total hits, including a 3-for-4 performance from Molina, who finished a home run shy of the cycle. The Dominican Republic native broke a two-inning scoreless drought to snap the tie with his two-out knock drilled to the right-center gap.
The Crawdads (16-27) didn't go down quietly, using a three-run home run by right fielder Tyler Ratliff in the bottom of the inning to trim the deficit to just a run. After Chad Martin gave up the home run, his first runs of any kind after a 17-inning scoreless streak to start the year, he walked catcher Yohel Pozo before making way for Zurak. The former Radford right-hander sent down four in a row with two strikeouts to finish the game for the Charleston pen and pick up his first save of the season.
Outfielders Pablo Olivares and Steven Sensley also finished with 3-hit games for the RiverDogs. Olivares is now 26 for his last 65 (.400) in the month of May. The contest featured nine combined extra-base hits between both clubs, including two home runs by the Crawdads that either tied the game or brought it within a run.
In his return from the disabled list, Daniel Ramos (3-2), threw three perfect innings of relief to garner the win, settling the game down after Jio Orozco yielded four runs across a four-inning start in his second outing of the season.
A one-out error helped bring Ratliff to the plate in the eighth, making all three runs allowed by Martin go unearned. The University of Delaware product still has a 0.00 ERA through 17 1/3 innings pitched to start the year and only four hits allowed.
Charleston opened the scoring in the first with three hits. Wilkerman Garcia led off the game with a knock before the former first-rounder Kyle Holder opened his 2018 campaign with a single of his own after being activated from Double-A Trenton's disabled list and being assigned to the RiverDogs earlier that day. With two outs, Chris Hess drove in Garcia on an RBI single.
Hickory third baseman Justin Jacobs answered with a two-out, solo shot before Charleston and Hickory traded two-run frames in the second.
Upcoming
Charleston continues the series with the Crawdads on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The RiverDogs will put righty Alexander Vargas (2-0, 3.77) on the bump as Hickory counters with Wisconsinite right-hander Derek Heffel (0-0, 6.75). Saturday night's broadcast can be tuned into on WTMA 1250 AM and the RiverDogs TuneIn radio station starting with "Saturday Dog Talk" pregame coverage at 5:30.
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 May 25, 2018
- Molina Clears the Bases as RiverDogs Hang on to Clip Crawdads - Charleston RiverDogs
- 'Dads Drop Close Game to RiverDogs - Hickory Crawdads
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- Bolton's Stellar Debut Headlines 5-0 Shutout Win - Charleston Dirty Birds
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- First-Rounder Kyle Holder to Make Season Debut as Yankees Shuffle RiverDogs Roster - Charleston RiverDogs
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- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (May 25) - Charleston Dirty Birds
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