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SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Reel In Catfish, 2-1, in 11 Innings

May 18, 2005 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC -- Justin Christian scooted home from second base with the winning run on a check-swing grounder to first base by Grant Plumley and the Charleston RiverDogs came-from-behind to nip the Columbus Catfish, 2-1, in 11 innings in a South Atlantic League game Tuesday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Christian, who had not played since May 7 because of a wrist injury and had entered the game in the ninth inning as a pinch-runner for DH Cody Ehlers, led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a base on balls. He promptly stole second base, and with Plumley's check-swing grounder to first, Christian kept running and raced home for the winning run.

With the victory, the RiverDogs improve to 24-15 on the season and take a one-game lead in the four-game set with Columbus that concludes Friday. Coupled with Augusta's 7-0 loss at Rome, Charleston is again tied for first place in the Southern Division standings with the Greenjackets. The Catfish fall to 13-26.

Columbus took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when DH Lucas May smacked a line-drive home run over the left field wall. It was the only run allowed by RiverDogs' starter Jeff Marquez, who pitched seven brilliant innings. The single-run lead held until the bottom of the ninth when Charleston's Estee Harris greeted Catfish reliever Kyle Wilson and stroked a 1-1 pitch for a single to right field to score Christian and knot the game at 1 apiece.

Reliever Mike Martinez, who tops the SAL in saves with 13, earned his second win of the season as he pitched the 11th inning and allowed only one hit. Marquez allowed three hits, one run and struck out four batters. He has allowed only four runs in his last five starts (but only a 2-2 record). T.J. Beam pitched the eighth, ninth and 10th innings for the RiverDogs and fanned five while issuing only one free pass.

Columbus starter Scott Elbert was most impressive as he tossed six innings of three-hit ball and struck out eight RiverDogs. He was relieved by Brian Aiken, who went 2.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits. Wilson suffered the loss, dropping his record to 0-2.

The RiverDogs could muster only nine hits with Tim Battle and Harris accounting for two hits each, while May led the Catfish with two hits.

The two teams meet for Game Two of the series Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. with Chase Wright (2-1) getting the call for Charleston while Javy Guerra (2-2) is expected to start for the Catfish.

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