SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Sand Blast Sand Gnats, 10-3

Published on May 9, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


The Charleston RiverDogs scored a season-high 10 runs as every position player got at least one hit en route to a 10-3 whipping of the Savannah Sand Gnats in South Atlantic League action Wednesday night in front of 2,247 fans at windy Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

With the victory, the RiverDogs snap a four-game losing skid and improve to 19-14 on the season while the Sand Gnats fall to 7-24. Charleston also had 17 hits on the night, tying a season-high, as they improve to 17-5 on the season when scoring first.

RiverDogs' starter Grant Duff (5-2) pitched six complete innings and scattered seven hits while striking out five and walking four. Duff, who earned a victory in his fourth consecutive start, now has three wins this season over the Sand Gnats and lowers his season earned run average to 3.00.

For the second straight night, Charleston scored in their opening opportunity when Wilmer Pino led off the first with a double to left center and advanced to third on a wild pitch from Savannah starter Josh Stinson (1-4). Pino then scored when Austin Jackson doubled on a wind-blown fly ball off centerfielder Daniel Stegall's glove to hand the hosts a quick 1-0 lead.

Charleston extended its lead to 5-0 with a four-run explosion in the third. Chris Malec drove home the RiverDogs' second run of the night with a sacrifice fly while Brian Aragon and Eduardo Nunez each drove home runs with singles to center field against Stinson, who was chased from the game after only 2.1 innings pitched.

Charleston plated its fourth run of the inning and fifth of the game when Aragon stole third and scored on a throwing error by Francisco Pena, the Sand Gnats' catcher.

With a 5-0 advantage, the RiverDogs added two more runs in the fourth when Aragon reached on a fielder's choice that scored Jackson. Nunez then doubled a run home against reliever Julio Polanco to increase Charleston's lead to 7-0.

Pena, the 17-year-old son of former major league all-star catcher Tony Pena, belted his first professional home run, a solo line drive over the left field fence in the sixth stanza for the Sand Gnats' first run of the game.

But the RiverDogs came right back with two runs in the sixth against Emary Frederick. Seth Fortenberry blooped an RBI single to left center, then later scored the team's ninth run on a double-play grounder. Charleston posted its 10th run in the eighth against Ryan Meyers on an RBI single by Jose Gil.

Savannah scored two runs in the top of the ninth on a one-out, RBI triple by Hector Pellot and a groundout RBI by Josh Thole against closer Jonathan Hovis.

Jackson and Nunez each collected three hits for Charleston while Nunez and Aragon both drove home a pair of runs. Savannah was led offensively by Pellot and Pena who each had two knocks.

The third game of this four-game block is set for Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. with Charleston manager Torre Tyson calling on left-hander Mike Dunn (3-1, 1.56 ERA) to toe the rubber while Savannah manager Tim Teufel, a former Mets infielder, hands the ball to right-hander Tobi Stoner (0-4, 3.18 ERA).

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 9, 2007


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