SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Erupt in Dramatic 14-13 Triumph

Published on August 23, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


AUGUSTA, Ga.- Abraham Almonte and Corban Joseph notched four hits each to pace the RiverDogs 18-hit attack, while the bullpen held off a furious Augusta rally in the ninth for a mind-boggling 14-13 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets at Lake Olmstead Stadium Sunday evening.

Charleston snaps a five-game road losing streak to improve to 23-30 this half, 62-61 overall, while the GreenJackets fall to 33-22, 68-56 overall, and 2.5 games behind the first-place Asheville Tourisits.

In the epic, 27 runs scored on 36 base hits, 11 pitchers were used, 17 of 18 starting position players collected a hit, 16 players scored at least one run, and 14 players had at least one RBI. The combined effort also set RiverDogs season-highs for runs (14 for Charleston, 13 for Augusta, 27 total), and hits (18 for Augusta, 36 total)

In the first, Charleston led off with four consecutive hits against GreenJackets' starter Orlando Yntema, capped off by RBI singles from Corban Joseph and Melky Mesa for a 2-0 lead.

The RiverDogs increased the advantage to 4-0 on Almonte's RBI triple to right-field and Joseph's second BI single in as many innings. Yntema was hammered for four runs on seven hits in just 1.1 innings of work.

Augusta attempted to throttle the game into its favor with a lengthy eight-run second against Cory Arbiso. After a leadoff strikeout by Juan Perez, Mike Loberg walked, Charlie Culberson singled, and Eliezer Zambrano walked to fill the bases. Wendell Fairley and Francisco Peguero followed with consecutive RBI single to cut the score to 4-2. After an infield RBI single by Vladimir Frias made the score 4-3, Frias advanced to second on a throwing error, which caused the tying run to score, 4-4. Four more runs would come home in the frame highlighted by Perez's two-run home run to left field for his ninth of the year and an 8-4 score.

Arbiso lasted just 1.2 innings allowing eight runs on seven hits, but like Yntema, would not figure in the decision.

Augusta took its biggest lead in the fourth after a two-out, two-run triple by Loberg off R'Dogs reliever Gabriel Tatis for for a 10-4 count.

The RiverDogs responded in grand fashion by tallying six runs in an adventurous fifth inning against reliever Kyle Woodruff. With one out, Joseph and Taylor Grote singled, and Addison Maruszak's walk loaded the bases. Garrison Lassiter drove in a run on a fielder's choice, as Maruszak's hard slide broke up an inning-ending double play, allowing Charleston to score five more times in the inning. Jeff Farnham blooped a two-run single, Ray Kruml reached on an error, and Jose Pirela, Almonte and Joseph all followed with RBI singles to tie the score at 10-10 against newly-inserted reliever Justin Fitzgerald.

Augusta reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning 11-10 on Peguero's sacrifice fly.

Charleston, though, fought back for a single run in the top of the sixth, with Maruszak lacing a single to left-centerfield to plate Grote and knot the game at 11-11.

Augusta attempted to take the lead in the sixth with first and third occupied and two outs, when Zambrano was picked off first base, but first-baseman Maruszak - who was making his first pro start at first - threw home to nail pinch-runner Dom Duggan at the plate and keep the game tied, which resulted in Duggan's ejection after a heated exchange.

The lead belonged to the RiverDogs for good in the seventh on three straight extra-base hits coming on a Kruml double, a Pirela RBI triple, and an Almonte RBI double. In the process, Almonte not only increased his hitting streak to 14 games, but he also recorded his first four-hit game with Charleston since April 20, 2008 in Columbus.

Mesa finished the inning with a sacrifice fly for a 14-11 score.

The GreenJackets would not score again until the bottom of the ninth, plating a pair of runs against right-hander Jeff Williams to cut the deficit to 14-13, but lefty Edwin Walker came in to record the final out with the bases loaded and collect his first South Atlantic League save.

Manny Banuelos (9-5) earned his first win in relief for Charleston tossing two scoreless innings, while Bryan Millikan (0-1) absorbed the loss for Augusta, allowing all three runs in the seventh inning.

In addition to Almonte and Joseph's four-hit games, Pirela was 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs, while Grote and Kruml had two hits each. Augusta was paced by three hits from Culberson and Fairley and two hits apiece from Peguero, Frias, Josh Mazzola, Andy D'Alessio and Zambrano for their 18 team knocks.

Monday's series and road-trip finale, which is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch, pits RiverDogs' lefty Trent Lare (2-3, 3.23) against Augusta southpaw Eric Surkamp (9-5, 3.61)

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 23, 2009


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