SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Niebla Lifts RiverDogs to Shutout in Home Finale

Published on August 28, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - The Charleston RiverDogs treated a sellout crowd of 5,579 fans with a 10-0 shutout victory over the Greenville Drive in Charleston's home finale on Thursday night in South Atlantic League action. Luis Niebla fired a personal-best seven scoreless innings while striking out seven to tie a career high.

The RiverDogs improved to 35-31 in the second half and 68-68 overall. The Drive slid to 23-43 this half and 57-78 this season. Charleston won this three-game series by a 2-1 margin.

Charleston's crowd of 5,579 fans was the largest attendance for a regular season home finale in at least the past decade. The RiverDogs drew 280,075 fans this season and set a team record with an average of 4,309 fans per contest.

Niebla's longest career outing was perhaps his finest. He needed only 79 pitches to complete seven shutout innings and match a career high with seven strikeouts. Niebla also retired the first six batters that he faced as well as the last 10 batters in a row.

A five-run rally in the first inning put the RiverDogs ahead for good. Claudio Custodio and Tyler Wade reached on walks before both runners scored on a one-out double from Miguel Andujar. A single from Yeicok Calderon and a walk for Brandon Thomas loaded up the bases. After a fly out, Jackson Valera ripped a bases-clearing double that drove in three runs.

Another pair of runs carried the lead to 7-0 in the fourth. A one-out single for Custodio and a two-out single from Michael O'Neill set up Andujar, who hit a single that was coupled with an error to score Custodio. Calderon answered with a single to bring in O'Neill.

In the fifth inning, Charleston stretched its advantage to 8-0. Gosuke Katoh reached on a leadoff walk and later scored during Wade's two-out single.

The RiverDogs scored twice in the sixth inning to take a 10-0 lead. Singles from Andujar, Calderon, and Thomas immediately filled the bases. Katoh launched a sacrifice fly that plated Andujar. Valera followed with a single to score Calderon.

Conor Mullee secured the shutout with two shutout innings in relief. A double play from Wade and Bubba Jones closed the eighth inning before Mullee hurled a perfect frame in the ninth.

Niebla claimed the victory and pushed his RiverDogs record to 3-1. Callahan suffered the loss and plummeted to 3-13 with the Drive.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from August 28, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central