SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs grab Sand Gnats

Published on June 30, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


Jairo Heredia pitched seven innings of two-hit ball and Austin Romine and Brandon Laird connected on back-to-back solo home runs to lead the Charleston RiverDogs to a 5-3 victory over the Savannah Sand Gnats in South Atlantic League action Monday night in front of 3,096 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

With the victory, Charleston improves to 5-6 in the season's second half and 50-31 overall while Savannah slips to 3-9 since the All-Star break and 36-46 overall. The RiverDogs have won three consecutive games over the Sand Gnats, including a two-game sweep Saturday and Sunday at Historic Grayson Stadium.

Heredia, in his longest outing of the season, held the Sand Gnats at bay as he walked only two batters and struck out six. The Charleston defense, although committing two errors, aided in the win by recording a pair of double plays.

All told, three Charleston pitchers allowed three hits on the night.

In the sixth with the hosts leading 2-1, Romine connected for his second round-tripper of the season, this one to left field. Two pitches later from reliever Julio Polanco, Laird lined his dinger, his eighth of the season, over the left field wall.

The RiverDogs started the scoring in the fourth inning when Bradley Suttle and Jesus Montero recorded back-to-back singles and then the bases were loaded when Brandon Laird drew a walk off Savannah starter Brant Rustich (1-4).

Carmen Angelini drove home Suttle on a fielder's choice to the shortstop and Montero scored on a passed ball to make the score 2-0.

The Sand Gnats sliced the lead in half in the sixth on an unearned run when Greg Veloz led off with a bunt to the mound and Heredia's throw hit Veloz on the back for an error. Veloz stole second base before Juan Lagares moved him to third with a groundout, and Casey Craig drove Veloz home with a RBI single to right.

Charleston scored their fifth run in the seventh as Austin Krum singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout, and scored on Justin Snyder's RBI single to right.

Savannah added their third run in the top of the ninth as Jose Jimenez belted his eighth home run of the season that came on a 0-1 count from reliever Stephen Artz, who was called up earlier in the day.

Charleston collected eight hits on the night with Romine leading the way with a pair.

Rustich, one of the New York Mets' top prospects, pitched four innings and surrendered two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out three. Combined with relievers Brad Burns and Polanco, the Sand Gnats fanned seven RiverDogs while the three Charleston pitchers collectively had eight punchouts.

Game 2 of this two-game set is set for Tuesday at a rare 6:35 pm start with Charleston right-hander Lance Pendleton (6-3, 2.28 ERA) going against Savannah righty Josh Stinson (1-4, 3.35 ERA).

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 30, 2008


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