SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Rojas' 10th inning sacrifice fly wins it for Charleston, 7-6

Published on July 18, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Catcher Irwil Rojas' sacrifice fly scored Tim Battle with the winning run as the Charleston RiverDogs came from behind to defeat the Asheville Tourists, 7-6, in 10 innings in South Atlantic League action Tuesday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Down to a final out and a final strike trailing 6-5 in the ninth, Charleston shortstop C.J. Henry grounded a game-tying single off Asheville closer Andrew Johnston to send the game into extra frames.

With the win, Charleston snaps a three-game losing streak and hands manager Pat Roessler his first home win. The RiverDogs even their second half record at 13-13 and improve to 51-45 overall while the Tourists slip to 14-12 in the second half and 49-47 overall.

Charleston avoids a series sweep as Asheville leaves town with a 3-1 record in the four-game set. The RiverDogs still have not been swept in a series at Riley Park since becoming a New York Yankees' affiliate in 2005.

Battle led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a long fly ball to center field which was dropped by center fielder Dexter Fowler, leaving Battle at second base. Eduardo Nunez grounded out to the pitcher which moved Battle to third, setting up Rojas' first-pitch, game-winning sac fly.

The Tourists exploded for five runs in the eighth inning off RiverDogs reliever David Seccombe, erasing a Charleston lead. Phillip Cuadrado crushed a first-pitch, 2-run homer, his second in as many nights, to tie the game at 3.

Later in the inning with the bags juiced, the Tourists took their first lead on a bases-clearing, two-out triple by Kyle Blumenthal, who was hitting in the ninth spot, to make the score 6-3.

The RiverDogs fought back for two two-out runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Joe Muich and Austin Jackson, cutting the margin to 6-5 and setting the stage for Henry's late-game heroics.

Jose Tabata led off the ninth and was hit by a pitch. With one out, the 17-year-old stole second, then later advanced to third on Reegie Corona's ground out. Henry tied the score on a 1-2 pitch from Johnston with a ground ball up the middle.

Steve Schroer (1-1) picked up his first win of the season after pitching scoreless frames in the ninth and tenth innings, scattering two hits and striking out one in the process. He pitched around a runner on third base with one out in the tenth to keep the game tied.

Asheville reliever Brett Strickland (0-4) suffered the loss, despite not allowing a hit in the bottom of the tenth inning. The RiverDogs ended the season series against the Tourists with only two wins in eight meetings, with both of the victories coming against Strickland.

Charleston got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Marcos Vecchionacci belted a 2-run home run to left field. The native Venezuelan slammed a 3-1 offering from starter Brandon Durden for his fourth round-tripper of the season.

The RiverDogs posted another run in the third on a RBI double by Corona. The hit plated Tabata, who drew a base on balls, but Ben Jones was thrown out at the plate on the play trying to score from first base.

Asheville pulled within 3-1 when Jason Van Kooten singled home Daniel Carte in the sixth inning. It was the only run given up by reliever Wilkins Arias in 5.1 innings pitched.

Charleston starter Garrett Patterson returned to the lineup after a five-week stint on the disabled list and threw 34 pitches. He fanned three of the seven batters he faced, consistently throwing fastballs that were clocked at 96 and 97 miles per hour.

The RiverDogs begin a four-game series against the first-place Augusta GreenJackets Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Charleston, which enters the series seven games behind the GreenJackets in the second-half Southern Division standings, manager plans on starting righty Erick Abreu (3-1, 2.63 ERA) in the opener.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 18, 2006


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