RiverDogs Black Out Power, 6-4
Published on April 15, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC - Kyle Higashioka's two-run home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the fifth to put Charleston over the top, as the RiverDogs defeated West Virginia, 6-4, in South Atlantic League action Thursday night in front of 4,076 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
With the win, Charleston improves to 4-4 and collects its 499th all-time victory at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park since its opening in 1997, while West Virginia falls to 3-5.
Higashioka's circuit clout capped a three-run fifth against starter Kyle McPherson (0-2) turning a 4-3 deficit into the eventual 6-4 final score. McPherson surrendered all six runs in 5.0 innings on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts
West Virginia struck first for the third time in the series, when right-fielder Jose Hernandez's triple to right was lost in the lights by right-fielder Taylor Grote and brought third baseman Jesus Brito home from second. Brito walked then stole second to set up his score.
Charleston pushed three runs across in the bottom half highlighted by DeAngelo Mack's second triple of the season, a two-run laser to right-centerfield, scored Zoilo Almonte and Taylor Grote for a 2-1 lead. Kelvin Castro's then hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring Mack back home, bringing the score to 3-1 Charleston going into the third.
The Charleston two-run lead was short-lived, however, when West Virginia second baseman Jarek Cunningham blasted his first home run of the year off starter Sean Black, who worked the first 4.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits in the no-decision. The big inning continued as left-fielders Rogelio Noris' single to left put two more on the board, scoring Kyle Morgan and Aaron Baker, but Noris was thrown out at second by Higashioka after the throw home from Almonte to finish the inning.
Zeroes ensued until the fifth when Charleston took the lead for good on Castro's single to left and Higashioka's two-run homer.
Ben Watkins (1-0) notched his first victory in 3.0 scoreless innings, retiring nine straight batters after two leadoff base hits in the fifth, while striking out the side in the seventh. Francisco Rondon threw an uneventful eighth inning, while Ryan Flannery posted his second save of the year via 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Almonte and Castro each had two hits for Charleston, while Cunningham went 3-for-4 with a home run for West Virginia. The Power finished the game 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position
The RiverDogs hit the road for an eight-game road trip beginning with a four-game series with the Augusta GreenJackets, a San Francisco Giants affiliate, scheduled for a 7:35 p.m. first pitch. Charleston sends Dominican righty Jose Ramirez (0-0, 3.60) to the mound to face-off against Augusta right-hander B.J. Salsbury (1-0, 0.00).
BALLPARK FUN: It was Budweiser Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark with dollar beers, hot dogs and sliders at the Ashley View Pub. With the new "MacGruber" movie opening soon, the RiverDogs paid salute the wacky character and asked fans to imagine, "what if MacGruber did their taxes?" Before the game fans showcased their inner-athlete skills as the 1K BACKWARD Race, which began in right field and finished at home plate. The 1K backwards race was presented by The Brick and Operation Boot Camp.
UP NEXT: The RiverDogs get back from their eight-game road trip on Saturday, April 24 to take on the Rome Braves on another Kia Country of Charleston Saturday Night and t-shirt giveaway to the first 1,000 fans, presented by Kia Country of Charleston and WTAT Fox 24.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 15, 2010
- Crawdads Take Finale in Asheville, 5-3 - Hickory Crawdads
- RiverDogs Black Out Power, 6-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Snap Skid With 4-1 Win Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Doyle Dazzles, Intimidators Win Again - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- BlueClaws Burned by Suns, 4-2 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Kannapolis takes 5-1 win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Drive Do It All in 4-0 Shutout in Homestand Finale - Greenville Drive
- Suns Shut Down BlueClaws 4-2 - Hagerstown Suns
- Jackets Again Denied Sweep, Fall 4-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Win 1,000th Game In Franchise History - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power, Pirates to Raise Funds for Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Opening Homestand Run-Down - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Captains Return On April 17 For Six-Game Homestand - SAL1
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Cannon, Taylor To Return For Opening Night; Legends To Be In 'Formal Attire' - Lexington Legends
- Shorebirds On Verge Of 1,000th Win In 15th Anniversary Season - Delmarva Shorebirds
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