RiverDogs crack BlueClaws, 4-1
August 17, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC - Charleston's Taylor Grote went 3-for-4 and pitcher Dan Kapala remained unbeaten as the RiverDogs cracked the Lakewood BlueClaws, 4-1, in South Atlantic League action Monday night in front of 2,516 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Making his first start as a professional, Charleston starter Kapala earned the victory to improve his record to 6-0 after he fired five shutout innings and allowed only two hits and a walk while striking out two. The former Notre Dame standout forced the BlueClaws into nine groundouts in his debut as a starter.
With the victory, the RiverDogs took the four-game series three games to one and went 6-1 on the homestand that lifted their second half record to 22-27 (61-58 overall) while the BlueClaws slip to .500 in the second half with a 24-24 record (66-50 overall). Charleston's back-to-back series wins during the homestand marked the first since the May 20-27 homestand when the RiverDogs won series over the Lexington Legends and Bowling Green Hot Rods.
The RiverDogs jumped to an early 2-0 advantage in the first inning when Jose Pirela lined a leadoff double to right and sprinted home on Abraham Almonte's RBI triple to center. Corban Joseph lifted a sacrifice fly that plated Almonte for the game's second run.
Charleston extended its lead to 4-0 in the third inning when Almonte reached on fielding error by Lakewood starter Heitor Correa and promptly stole second. Following a ground ball that advanced Almonte to third, Melky Mesa lined a RBI single that drove home Almonte. After Mesa stole second, Grote smacked a RBI double to deliver Mesa.
The BlueClaws scratched a run in the eighth to make the score 4-1 when Harold Garcia drew a two-out walk off reliever Chuck Nolte and scored on Anthony Gose's RBI double.
Jeff Williams, the RiverDogs' third pitcher, earned his third save of the season as he pitched the ninth inning and allowed a hit.
Correa (7-6) suffered the defeat for the after he allowed four runs - two of which were earned - on six hits and two walks while striking out one in six full frames.
The RiverDogs recorded six hits led by Grote's three while the BlueClaws tallied five knocks paced by Jeremy Hamilton's three.
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