Rodriguez, Homers, Key Savannah to 6-1 Victory
September 6, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC - Savannah starter Armando Rodriguez allowed just one hit in five innings while Raul Reyes and Nick Giarraputo each homered to lead the Sand Gnats to a 6-1 win over the Charleston RiverDogs front of 4,253 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park Sunday evening.
With the victory, Savannah snaps a six-game losing streak to up its record to 30-26 in the season's second half (65-72 overall) while the RiverDogs break a season-high six-game winning streak and drop to 34-34 in the half (73-65 overall).
Savannah struck immediately for a 3-0 lead against RiverDogs starter Chuck Nolte via a three-run home run by Reyes, his ninth circuit clout of the season.
The Sand Gnats increased that advantage to 4-0 in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Wilmer Flores.
Nolte (4-3) lasted just four innings and permitted seven hits and four runs, while walking two and striking out four.
Charleston scored for the only time in the sixth against starter Armando Rodriguez. Mitch Abeita walked, stole second base - his first of the year -- and took third on a throwing error by catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere. Tommy Baldridge drove home Abeita with an RBI fielder's choice for a 4-1 score.
Giarraputo clubbed his second home run of the series in the ninth inning off Charleston reliever Paul Heider, a two-run bomb to left field, to bring the lead to 6-1.
Rodriguez (2-1) surrendered one run on the one base hit - a Taylor Grote single in the second inning - while walking a season-high tying four batters and striking out six. Sammy Martinez allowed a run in two innings of relief, while former College of Charleston pitcher Mike Lynn earned his first save of the campaign as he pitched two complete frames and surrendered one hit while striking out a pair of RiverDogs.
Charleston's Andrew Brackman worked three scoreless innings of relief and allowed three hits while notching three punchouts. Heidler gave up two runs on three hits in his two innings of work.
Savannah collected 14 hits on the night with Flores and Giarraputo each securing three while Charleston was held to only five hits with no one securing more than one.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 6, 2009
- Huntzinger, Drive Roll Past Tourists, 6-2, for 2nd Straight Night - Greenville Drive
- Five Run Inning Sinks Tourists - Asheville Tourists
- Legends Win Again in Bowling Green - Lexington Legends
- Bats Go Quiet in 7-1 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Hots Rods Fall Short - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Win Clinched Winning Half - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Rodriguez, Homers, Key Savannah to 6-1 Victory - Charleston RiverDogs
- Power Fall to Hoppers - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hickory Rallies to 7-3 Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Crawdads cruise by Intimidators, 7-3 - Hickory Crawdads
- Kennelly placed on Temporary Inactive list - Rome Emperors
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