SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Swat Sand Gnats, 4-2, in Home Opener

Published on April 7, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


First baseman Brandon Laird drove home a pair of runs and Zach McAllister fired five innings of scoreless ball as the Charleston RiverDogs swatted the Savannah Sand Gnats, 4-2, in South Atlantic League action Monday night in front 5,138 fans in the RiverDogs' home opener at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

With the victory, the RiverDogs retain a share of first place in the Southern Division and improve to 4-1 on the early season while the Sand Gnats slip to 3-2.

Laird paced Charleston offensively, garnering two of the team's five hits and reaching base three times.

McAllister (1-0), Charleston's starter, tossed shutout ball for five complete frames and permitted four hits while striking out five Sand Gnats in winning his first decision of the season. Chace Vacek handled Savannah for the final two frames without allowing a run to earn his first save.

The RiverDogs broke open a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and the bases loaded when Laird blooped a Texas League single over the second baseman's head to plate a pair of runs. Laird's single was Charleston's first hit of the contest.

The RiverDogs pushed across their third run of the game in the fifth when left fielder Austin Krum drew a walk, advanced to third on Abraham Almonte's single through the right side, and scored on Justin Snyder's sacrifice fly to left field.

Down 3-0 in the seventh, Savannah scratched two runs off of Charleston's second pitcher, Jason Stephens. With one out, left fielder Daniel Stegall tripled and scored on Greg Veloz's RBI groundout. The next batter, shortstop Matt Bouchard, slammed a 3-2 pitch over the left field scoreboard.

The Sand Gnats' ninth-inning rally fell short, when with runners on second and third base with two outs Bouchard struck out swinging to end the game.

Savannah starter Angel Calero (0-1) went four full innings and allowed two runs on only one hit, the Laird two-run single. Maikel Cleto replaced Calero in the fifth and threw 3.1 frames, allowed two runs on four hits and struck out four while issuing three walks. Jose Bierd completed the final two outs and hit one batter.

The Sand Gnats were led by Bouchard's two hits as Savannah collected eight on the night.

Game 2 of this four-game series is set for Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. RiverDogs manager Torre Tyson has announced that righty Dellin Betances (1-0, 3.60 ERA) will toe the rubber while Savannah manager Donovan Mitchell will counter with southpaw Michael Antonini (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 7, 2008


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