SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Ortega Owns Spotlight as Tourists Down 'Dogs, 10-5

Published on August 2, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Rafael Ortega cracked two home runs and his teammates launched two more as the Asheville Tourists breezed past the Charleston RiverDogs, 10-5, in South Atlantic League action Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 1,882 fans at McCormick Field.

Asheville improved to 20-18 this half and 51-56 overall in evening the series, while Charleston dropped to 16-22 this half and 42-66 for the season.

Ortega delivered the keynote for the Tourists against RiverDogs starter Scottie Allen (4-2) in the bottom of the first, stroking his sixth home run of the season over the right field fence for a 1-0 lead.

Asheville starter Peter Tago (3-3) set down the first four Charleston men he faced, but his string of success ended abruptly when Gary Sanchez stepped into the box. Sanchez swatted his second homer in as many at-bats and 12thof the year, taking a Tago offering to the opposite field to even the tally at 1 apiece.

Any momentum the RiverDogs generated was erased in the bottom half of the second, though, as the Tourists erupted for six markers and a commanding 7-1 advantage.

Corey Dickerson, Brett Tanos, and Avery Barnes hit consecutive singles to load the bases with nobody out. After a pop out, Anthony Aguilera started the scoring string with a two-run double which moved the Tourists back in front at 3-1. Ortega was next, and built on an already productive night with a two-run single to right, upping the Asheville advantage to 5-1.

Sanchez continued his recent strong work behind the plate to catch Ortega stealing and clear the bases, but Allen still couldn't steer clear of further harm. Cristhian Adames lofted a double to extend the frame for Helder Velazquez, who promptly hammered a two-run shot for his 9th round tripper of the campaign and the 7-1 Tourists lead.

Tago struck out two in a 1-2-3 top of the third, allowing Asheville to flex its muscle once again in the bottom of the third. Dickerson did the honors this time, powering his league-leading 23rd homer to push the cushion to 8-1.

Allen stayed on for the fourth, and was befuddled by Ortega once more, as he clubbed his second circuit clout of the game for a 9-1 Tourists lead.

The fourth inning was all for Allen, as he was rocked for the nine run on 12 hits while managing to strike out two batters.

Tago cruised through the third, fourth and fifth innings before meeting some resistance in the sixth as Charleston whittled its substantial deficit to 9-3.

Anderson Feliz and Shane Brown drew back-to-back one out walks, and Kevin Mahoney filled the sacks by lining a single to left. Sanchez worked another free pass for his second RBI to score the first run of the surge, and Ramon Flores produced an RBI groundout to pull the RiverDogs within six runs.

The Tourists responded with a run in the bottom of the frame, as Yobanny Reyes loaded the bases by allowing a hit and two walks before issuing a free pass to Tanos to send home Adames and a 10-3 lead.

Tago was sharp in getting himself to the .500 mark, logging 6.2 innings while allowing the three runs on four hits and four walks, fanning six.

Charleston did not go down without a fight, scoring twice in the ninth to account for the final 10-5 outcome against Asheville reliever Bruce Kern. Flores cranked a solo home run for his 11th bomb of the year, and Garrison Lassiter scored Kelvin De Leon with a RBI groundout for the final tally of the night.

Game three of this four-game set is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Left-hander Steve Evarts (1-4, 4.91 ERA) is expected to go for the Yankees' affiliate, versus right-hander Josh Mueller (4-5, 4.82 ERA) of the Rockies' affiliate.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 2, 2011


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