RiverDogs Squeak Past Drive for Second Straight Game
July 1, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Right-handed starter Janson Junk turned in six shutout innings before center fielder Matt McPhearson delivered with the game-winning knock in the top of the eighth following a near hour-long rain delay as the Charleston RiverDogs snuck past the Greenville Drive, 1-0, to win their second in a row on Sunday afternoon at Fluor Field.
Junk was brilliant in a no-decision effort, throwing up six zeroes while matching a career-best with seven strikeouts. After issuing a leadoff walk to start the game, he retired the next ten Drive (29-51, 4-7) hitters in a row. The Seattle University product walked his second batter in the fourth and yielded his first hit with two outs in the inning to designated hitter Zach Sterry but left two men on in the inning. It marked Junk's first scoreless outing of the season; he had allowed 10 runs over his previous 14 innings heading into Sunday.
The game was interrupted due to rain with one out in Charleston's (40-37, 7-2) half of the eighth. Right fielder Leonardo Molina came out of the 59-minute delay and was plunked to put a runner aboard. After he advanced on a wild pitch by righty Devon Fisher (3-6), McPhearson worked a 3-1 count before drilling the go-ahead single into center field to score Molina stand up.
Flame-throwing lefty Anderson Severino hurled the final two innings for Charleston to pick up his first save in five opportunities this season. Daniel Ramos (5-2) weaseled out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the seventh before the delay to garner the victory.
The win marked Charleston's second one-run win over the Drive after they narrowly edged out a 3-2 victory on Saturday. The Holy City has now played in a league-high 36 one-run games this season.
Hildemaro Requena kept the Dogs lineup in check throughout the early afternoon portion, yielding just two hits in seven shutout frames to bounce back from an effort in early June when he gave up three homers and was tagged for nine total runs against the Charleston lineup at Fluor Field. It came two starts after Requena spun 7 1/3 shutout to end the RiverDogs' season in game three of the playoffs last September.
Pablo Olivares finished the game 1-for-4, hustling out his third infield hit in the last five days to extend his hitting streak to double digits. The 20-year-old phenom is now 16-for-40 (.400) at the plate since the All-Star break and currently 12 at-bats shy of qualifying for what would be a league-leading .353 batting average on the year.
The victory moves Charleston to sole possession of first-place in the Southern Division second-half standings and a game ahead of Asheville.
Upcoming
Charleston continues the series with the Drive on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. from Fluor Field. Charleston will send right-hander Rony Garcia (4-2, 4.37) to the hill to duel with southpaw Enmanuel De Jesus (2-0, 3.27) for the BoSox affiliate. Monday's game can be tuned into on "The Big Talker" WTMA 1250 AM with audio streaming live at riverdogs.com and the RiverDogs' TuneIn radio station.
RiverDogs single-game tickets, including options to the Riley Park Club, are now available for the 2018 campaign, the club's 25th season as the RiverDogs and their "175th season in dog years." Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com/tickets.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 1, 2018
- Augusta Bats Overpower Fireflies - Augusta GreenJackets
- Fermin's Hit Streak Reaches 13 Straight Games - Columbia Fireflies
- RiverDogs Outduel Drive 1-0 on Sunday - Greenville Drive
- RiverDogs Squeak Past Drive for Second Straight Game - Charleston RiverDogs
- 'Dads Split Sunday's Games against Greensboro - Hickory Crawdads
- Offense Sputters in 2-1 Loss to Legends - Asheville Tourists
- Lexington Legends Walk It off in the Bottom of the Tenth against Asheville Tourists - Lexington Legends
- West Virginia Smacked by Hagerstown Sunday - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Rain Shortened Game Goes to Rome 6-5 - Rome Emperors
- Johnston Overpowers West Virginia in 11-4 Win - Hagerstown Suns
- 'Birds Offense Sputters in Scorcher - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: July 1 at Augusta (Game 77) - Columbia Fireflies
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (July 1) - Charleston Dirty Birds
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