Sports stats

SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

O'Brien Offs Power, RiverDogs Slug Three Homers in 5-4 Win

May 12, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - Mikey O'Brien matched a career-high with 7.0 innings pitched, and the Charleston offense cracked three home runs, as the RiverDogs defeated the West Virginia Power, 5-4, in South Atlantic League action Thursday night in front of a crowd of 4,571 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

The RiverDogs improved to 14-20 and earned a series-split with the victory, while the Power fell to 15-17.

As sharp as West Virginia starter Zack Dodson (2-3) was, O'Brien (2-2) was even better. The Roanoke native was simply masterful in in the later stages of his outing, as he did not permit a single hit after the third inning. O'Brien mowed down 14 of the last 16 Power batters he faced, yielding the one run (none earned) on two hits and three walks, fanning four along the way.

Gift Ngoepe delivered the keynote for the Power, singling and scoring the contest's first run for a 1-0 West Virginia lead in the top of the first. Ngoepe lined a base hit to left off O'Brien and eventually came into score on a Justin Howard groundout.

J.R. Murphy clocked his fourth home run of the season in the last half of the frame to even the tally, 1-1. Murphy jumped all over a Dodson fastball, driving it off the bottom of the batter's eye beyond the centerfield fence.

Both hurlers settled into a groove after the first inning, matching zeroes from the second through the fourth. Dodson cracked first in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he was bitten by the long ball again.

Kyle Roller parked his second home run in as many nights, clobbering a no-doubter deep over the wall in right on the seventh pitch of a tough at-bat, giving the RiverDogs a 2-1 lead.

Charleston threatened for more, loading the bases on three consecutive singles. Dodson displayed his mettle, though, escaping further damage on the strength of a strikeout and a double play groundout.

An unearned run stretched the RiverDogs advantage to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, as Dodson was forced from the hill. Kelvin De Leon reached on an error by third baseman Andy Vasquez, moved to second on a bloop single by Roller, and came in to cross the plate on a Jose Toussen RBI single. All of the damage was done with two outs.

Dodson, rated the No. 18 prospect in the Pirates' system by Baseball America, was sharp while allowing three runs (two earned) over 5.2 innings. The 6-2 lefty also displayed pinpoint control, issuing no free passes and striking out four.

De Leon joined in on the home run fun in the bottom of the eighth to give reliever Tommy Kahnle more breathing room as the RiverDogs claimed a 5-1 lead. Like Roller, De Leon went yard for the second straight contest, turning on a Jason Townsend fastball for a two-run skyscraper over the scoreboard in left-centerfield. It was his team-leading fifth circuit clout of the year.

The insurance runs proved to be crucial, as the pesky Power refused to go quietly in the ninth.

Vasquez helped atone for his earlier error with a triple to the wall in right field to chase home Dan Grovatt and Kawika Emsley-Pai and bring West Virginia within two runs. Gift Ngoepe came to the dish next and laced a line drive off the glove of De Leon in right, sending home Vasquez and closing the gap to a single tally.

Kelvin Perez was summoned from the RiverDogs bullpen by Aaron Ledesma and picked up his second save in as many nights, stranding the tying run at third and earning Charleston a series split with a 5-4 triumph.

Toussen elongated his career-best hitting streak to six games, going 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI out of the number eight spot in the order.

BALLPARK FUN: In conjunction with Florence Nightingale's birthday and the end of National Nurses Week, the RiverDogs honored the nurses of the Lowcountry with the inaugural Salute to Nursing Night. To say thanks for all they do for the health of our community, special recognition was given to the nurses of the year. Nurses and regular fans alike were able to party it up on another Budweiser Thirsty Thursday. With $1 beers in the Ashley View Pub and fresh music courtesy of the stylings of DJ Natty Heavy, the extended weekend got off to a rollicking start at The Joe.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Zach Nuding (3-2, 4.50 ERA) is expected to toe the slab for Charleston as the RiverDogs begin a four-game road set with the Greenville Drive. Fellow righty Miguel Celestino (2-2, 4.28 ERA) is slated to take the ball for the rival Boston Red Sox affiliate. This is the third time the two have pitched against each other this season, with each starter having notched a win.

Fans of Charleston's favorite professional sports team won't have to wait long to catch the RiverDogs at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. Charleston returns to The Joe on May 17 to start a seven-game homestand following the quick four-game roadie. It's another KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets: Buy one ticket, get one free from KRAFT Singles with purchase. Bring a package wrapper to Riley Park on Tuesdays for a steal of a deal, so visit kraftsingles.com for more information as exclusions apply. Thanks to 98.9 FUNfm, those in attendance will also be treated to special two-for-one deals on concessions.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from May 12, 2011


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.

Other Recent Charleston RiverDogs Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central