SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Chomp Grasshoppers in 12, 10-7

Published on July 25, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Corban Joseph collected five hits, including a two-run homer, as the RiverDogs chomped the Grasshoppers, 10-7, in 12 innings in South Atlantic League action Saturday night in front of 7,763 fans at Greensboro's NewBridge Bank Park.

Tied in the top of the 12th the RiverDogs exploded for three runs when Addison Maruszak lined a leadoff single to left-center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Garrison Lassiter. Then Mitch Abeita reached on a fielding error by first baseman Ryan Keedy. Jose Pirela laced a RBI double to right that plated Maruszak and allowed Abeita to sprint to third. Abraham Almonte added a two-run single up the middle that knocked home Abeita and Pirela and made the score 10-7.

Jonathan Ortiz (SV, 5) locked down the bottom of the 12th by striking out the side in order, securing the RiverDogs triumph and earning his fifth save of the season.

With the victory, the RiverDogs take the four-game series 3-1 and improve to 13-16 in the second half (52-47 overall) while the Grasshoppers' second half record drops to 8-20 (45-53 overall).

Charleston captured an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Almonte lined a single to left and circled home on Joseph's two-run blast over the right field fence for his fourth home run of the season.

Greensboro knotted the game at 2-2 in the home half of the first when Kevin Mattison was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Jake Smolinski's RBI double to center. On the play Smolinski advanced to third on a fielding error by Charleston center fielder Almonte. Keedy lifted a sacrifice fly to left that drove in Smolinski and tie the game.

The RiverDogs added a run in the second when Mike Lyon hammered a solo shot over the left field wall for his second on the season and made the score 3-2.

Charleston extended its advantage to 6-2 in the fifth on a RBI double by Taylor Grote and a two-run double by Maruszak.

The Grasshoppers cut into the RiverDogs lead in the fifth when Mattison smacked a solo home run over the right field fence for his 12th of the season and made the score 6-3.

The RiverDogs took a 7-3 advantage in the seventh when Melky Mesa lined a leadoff double to center and scampered home on Maruszak's RBI double to left.

Greensboro forced a 7-7 tie in the seventh when Keedy crushed a three-run homer off of Charleston reliever Charles Nolte over the right field wall for his first of the season and Kyle Skipworth lined a RBI double to right as the teams remained deadlocked until the 12th inning.

Charleston reliever Dan Kapala (5-0) earned the win following 1.0 stanza of shutout relief in the 11th innings as he walked one and struck out two.

Grasshoppers reliever Peter Andrelczyk (2-4) suffered the defeat after he allowed three runs - none earned - on four hits and one strikeout in 2.0 innings.

RiverDogs starter Jairo Heredia was handed a no-decision after he threw four full frames and was charged with two runs - one earned - on five hits and four strikeouts.

Greensboro starter Kyle Kaminska also received a no-decision after he allowed six earned runs on 12 hits and one walk while striking out three in five innings.

Paced by Joseph's five hits, which set a new season-high, the RiverDogs accumulated 19 base knocks while the Grasshoppers amassed 12 hits led by a quartet, who each smacked a pair. The 31 combined hits in the game are the most this season in a RiverDogs game.

Charleston tackles the second leg of their eight-game road trip with a four-game stint in Charleston, W. Va. as RiverDogs battle the West Virginia Power, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Manager Torre Tyson hands the ball to southpaw Manny Banuelos (8-4, 2.34 ERA) while Power Manager Gary Green counters with right-hander Rafael De Los Santos (0-3, 6.46 ERA), with first pitch set for Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 25, 2009


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