SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Debunk Legends, 8-7

Published on May 20, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Mike Lyon went a perfect 3-for-3 and closer Pat Venditte collected his league-leading 11th save as the Charleston RiverDogs held off the Lexington Legends, 8-7, in South Atlantic League action Wednesday in front of 2,742 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Shortstop Jose Pirela, in his first game as a RiverDog, drove home a pair of runs as did Chase Weems, as Charleston opened an eight-game homestand with a victory. With the win, the RiverDogs jump to 21-18 on the season while the Legends slip below .500 at 19-20.

With the game knotted at 7-7, Charleston took the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Pirela reached on an infield single and then sprinted to third after Lyon singled to center. Weems grounded into a forceout that scored Pirela for the game winning run.

Lexington hit the scoreboard in the first inning when Elbert Rosario drilled the first pitch he saw from Charleston starter David Phelps over the right-center field fence for a solo shot, his fourth of the season.

The Legends extended the lead to 3-0 in the second on Steve Brown's two-run shot to right field on a 2-1 pitch from Phelps. It was Brown's first round-tripper of the season.

Melky Mesa then cut the deficit to 3-1 in the second inning on a solo shot to left that came on a 2-1 offering from starter Brad Dydalewicz. It was Mesa's ninth dinger of the season, which hands him the league lead in home runs.

In the home half of the third, Charleston sent nine batters to the plate, scored five runs and seized a 6-3 advantage. Pirela knocked home the first two runs with a single, and Lyon followed with a RBI single before Weems dropped a RBI bunt single. Lyon scored the fifth and final run of the inning when Abraham Almonte grounded out to first.

Lexington chiseled two runs and cut into Charleston's lead, 6-5, in the top of the fifth when Brandon Barnes singled to left and then advanced to second on a balk. Roland Ramirez tripled to into the left field corner to plate Barnes. Jay Austin cracked a single to left that scored Ramirez for the inning's second run.

The Legends knotted the game at 6-6 in the visiting half of the sixth when Federico Hernandez lined a single to left-center and then scampered to third after Phil Disher reached on a fielding error. Barnes lifted a sacrifice fly to center that plated Hernandez for the game-tying run.

The RiverDogs snatched a 7-6 advantage in the bottom of the sixth when Almonte dropped a bunt single to lead off the inning and then raced to third after Corban Joseph singled to right-center. Almonte scored on Brewer's groundball double play.

Lexington tied the game 7-7 in the top of the seventh when Michael Diaz cracked a leadoff single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scooted to third when Rosario reached on an error. Hernandez then lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored Diaz.

RiverDogs reliever Brandon Braboy (2-1) surrendered one run on two hits and a walk while striking out three to earn the victory. Venditte, pro baseball's only switch-pitcher, sealed the win with an uneventful ninth inning in which he struck out one batter and allowed a hit.

Lexington's Jose Trinidad suffered the loss that dropped his record to 0-3 as he pitched two frames and allowed one run on two hits while walking one.

Phelps scattered 10 hits and allowed five earned runs while striking out five in five complete innings and got a-no decision for the RiverDogs, who used four pitchers on the night and combined for 11 strikeouts.

Charleston and Lexington combined to ratchet 24 hits on the night the RiverDogs were lead by Lyon's three base knocks while Diaz collected three hits for the Legends.

Charleston gives the ball to 6-10 right-hander Andrew Brackman (0-4, 4.01) in Game 2 of the four-game series while Lexington opposes with righty Ross Seaton (4-3, 1.59) with the first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from May 20, 2009


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.

OurSports Central