SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Sweep Drive, 2-0 & 5-4

Published on May 29, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Melky Mesa blasted his league leading 12th home run and closer Pat Venditte earned his league leading 14th save as the Charleston RiverDogs swept the Greenville Drive, 2-0 and 5-4, in South Atlantic League action Friday in front of 5,887 fans at Greenville's Fluor Field.

With the pair of victories, Charleston leaps to 28-20 on the season and remains atop the Southern Division standings while Greenville drops to 24-23.

After the last night's game was suspended due to rain, RiverDogs reliever Brandon Braboy (SV, 1) took the mound Friday evening and shut down the Drive rendering them hitless over the final three frames while striking out two to secure the 2-0 Charleston victory and his first save of the season.

The lone score occurred when the RiverDogs seized a 2-0 lead in the seventh when Mesa slugged his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field fence. Corban Joseph followed with a single to right, stole second and then circled home on Jose Pirela's single to right for the inning's second run.

Charleston starter Brett Marshall (3-3) scattered five hits and one walk while striking out nine, which tied a RiverDogs season-high, in 6.0 innings pitched for the win.

Drive reliever Yeiper Castillo (0-4) earned the defeat when he was charged with two earned runs on three hits while striking out four in 2.0 innings pitched.

In the regularly scheduled nightcap, the RiverDogs captured an initial 3-0 advantage in the top of the first when Abraham Almonte and Dan Brewer drew walks before scoring on Mesa's double to right field. After a balk was called on Drive starter Fabian Williamson, Joseph and Pirela drew walks to load the bases. With the sacks packed, Williamson uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Mesa to score the inning's third run.

Charleston added to its 5-0 lead in the fifth frame when Brewer lined a single to left to lead off the inning, stole second and then scored on David Adams' double to right. After advancing to third on a fly out, Adams was knocked home when Joseph slapped a single up the middle.

Greenville sliced into Charleston's 5-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth when Ryan Dent singled to left, advanced to second on David Mailman's single to left and then scored on Tim Federowicz's single to center.

Ryan Lavarnway blasted an additional run and made the score 5-2 in the home half of the sixth when he smacked his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field fence for the Drive.

Greenville narrowed the gap to 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh when Mailman and Federowicz each smacked two-out singles and then scored on Anthony Rizzo's double to center.

With a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth, Venditte (SV, 14) silenced the Drive as he allowed one hit and one strike out in 1.0 scoreless inning of relief to lock down the RiverDogs victory and earn the save.

Charleston starter Hector Noesi (2-2) earned the win as he allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven in 6.2 innings pitched.

Williamson (3-2) allowed three earned runs on one hit and six walks while striking out four in 3.0 innings pitched for the loss in his second start of the season for Greenville.

The RiverDogs will give the ball to right-hander David Phelps (4-1, 3.44 ERA) while the Drive will oppose with righty Steven Fife (0-0, N/A ERA), who will be making his first start of the season in Game 3 of the four-game set Saturday, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 29, 2009


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