SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Sweep Twinbill at Rome

Published on April 5, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


The Charleston RiverDogs improved their record to 3-0 by taking both games of their doubleheader at Rome, 5-4 and 3-0, at State Mutual Stadium Saturday night.

Rome (0-3) got out of the gate quickly in the lidlifter with two runs in the first inning off RiverDogs starter Jairo Heredia, highlighted by a solo home run from designated hitter Cody Johnson, his first of the season.

Charleston (3-0) was held in check over the first three innings by Rome starter Scott Diamond, who was making his professional debut, but found offensive life in the top of the third inning with three runs on three hits, as the first four batters of the inning all reached base.

Third baseman Bradley Suttle stroked an RBI single scoring Justin Snyder, who doubled to lead off the frame. Wady Rufino and Austin Romine each contributed sacrifice flies to gain a 3-2 lead.

After a rocky first inning, Heredia, who was making his SAL debut, pitched brilliantly over the next three innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. However, since he only tossed four innings, he could not qualify for his first RiverDog victory.

The Braves tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth on Yohan Silva's first home run of the season, a solo shot, off of RiverDogs reliever Jason Stephens.

Charleston responded with two runs in their half of the seventh off reliever Chad Rodgers (0-1), who eventually was saddled with the loss. Snyder's one-out, RBI fielder's choice scored Austin Krum, who also reached on a fielder's choice. Abraham Almonte then blooped a single to center field and scored on a wild pitch to increase the margin to 5-3.

Jonathan Ortiz allowed an unearned run in the seventh inning to make the score 5-4, when Johnson's infield pop-up was dropped. Silva then followed with a hard shot towards the mound, but Ortiz made the defensive play of the game on a diving stop towards the third base side and threw out Silva at first to keep the tying from scoring and pick up his first save of the season. Stephens (1-0) picked up his first victory as a RiverDog since 2006, allowing one run in two innings of work.

Game two featured a classic pitcher's duel between Charleston's Noel Castillo and Rome's Eric Barrett, as the contest remained scoreless through four innings. The RiverDogs put at least one runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings, but could not muster any runs.

The RiverDogs broke through the monotony in the top of the fifth, as Suttle drove a 3-2 pitch, which turned out to be Barrett's (0-1) last of the evening, over the left field fence for his first professional home run, and first of the season for the RiverDogs, to give Charleston a 1-0 lead.

It would only be the beginning, as eleven consecutive RiverDogs reached base with nine straight hits and nine runs scored. After Barrett's exit, reliever Yeliar Castro was lit up for seven of those successive hits and seven earned runs. He was then relieved by Raul Gonzalez, who finished the inning allowing one run on two hits. Every RiverDog had at least one hit and one run scored, and eight of the nine starters had at least one RBI in the top of the fifth inning.

Charleston scored four more runs in the seventh inning, capped off by a two-run double from right fielder Dave Williams, who finished 4-for-5 in the game with three RBIs. Six RiverDogs collected multiple hits in the contest.

Castillo pitched three-hit ball over 4.1 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts, but again did not figure in the decision. Reliever Jesse Hoover (1-0), a 2007 RiverDog, picked up the win after facing only two batters in the fifth inning recording one strikeout. Lance Pendleton struck out five batters over the final two innings to preserve the victory.

The RiverDogs will finish up their season-opening series in Rome tomorrow at 2 p.m. before returning to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park for an eight-game homestand, with the home opener against the Savannah Sand Gnats on Mon., April 7. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from April 5, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central