SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Rome Blasts Charleston Twice, 14-6 & 7-4

Published on May 17, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


ROME, Ga. - Robert Hefflinger drilled three doubles and drove in five runs in leading the Rome braves to a doubleheader sweep of the Charleston RiverDogs, 14-6 and 7-4, in South Atlantic League action at State Mutual Stadium Monday evening.

Rome turns a four-game losing streak into a two-game winning streak in improving to 14-23, while Charleston has now dropped four in a row in falling to 17-21. The RiverDogs were also swept in a doubleheader for the first time since Aug. 2007

Game one resumed in the bottom of the third with a 1-0 RiverDogs lead after Sunday's rain suspension, and Rome wasted no time against Charleston's Dickson Marquez (0-2) scoring seven times to take a 7-1 lead. Hefflinger's three-run double and Osman Marval's two-RBI single highlighted the rally.

Charleston received a DeAngelo Mack RBI single in the fourth cutting the score to 7-2, and Luke Murton's two-run double trimmed the advantage to 7-4 in the fifth.

However, Rome's offense erupted again for six runs in the sixth against Gabriel Tatis on a pair of two-RBI singles by Cory Harrilchak and Matt Weaver upping the score to 13-4.

Zoilo Almonte's two-out double plated a pair for a 13-6 score, but Rome answered when Hefflinger's groundball was mishandled by Jimmy Paredes setting the final margin at 14-6.

Luis Avilan (2-1) earned the win in game one for Rome tossing 2.2 innings of relief with four strikeouts.

The 14 runs scored by Rome are the most allowed by the RiverDogs since July 1, 2007, which was a 14-4 loss to Rome.

Hefflinger's four RBI paced the Braves, while Murton and Kyle Higashioka drilled a pair of doubles for Charleston, and Almonte and Ray Kruml also contributed two hits.

In game two, Rome posted its third multi-run inning of the twinbill scoring four runs - all with two outs - in the third inning against Charleston's Jairo Heredia for a 4-0 lead. The Braves executed a double steal with Weaver stealing home and L.V. Ware taking second for the first run, while Harrilchak brought home a run with a single to centerfield, and Jordan Kreke did the same on a two-run single.

Charleston scored twice in the fourth cutting it to 4-2. With Murton at third and Rob Lyerly at second, Mack reached on an error by first baseman Derek Wiley to score Murton, but Lyerly tried to score as well on the same play and was successful when catcher Braeden Schlehuber dropped the relay throw.

The Braves tallied a run in the fifth for a 5-2 lead on Hefflinger's RBI double to right-centerfield.

In the top of the sixth, the RiverDogs rebounded for a pair of runs against reliever Dalton Acord. Designated hitter J.R. Murphy, making his SAL debut, roped a RBI double inching Charleston closer at 5-3. Murphy then came home on Emerson Landoni's RBI groundout for a 5-4 score.

Christian Betancourt added the Rome insurance in the bottom half with a two-run home run against Heredia (1-1) to finish the offense at 7-4.

Robinson Lopez (2-1) picked up the win in his first start of the year allowing two runs in 5.0 innings with five strikeouts. Heredia permitted all seven runs in 5.0 innings on nine hits with a walk and five punchouts.

Tuesday's contest is set for a special 10:30 a.m. start time. The RiverDogs will send right-hander Jose Ramirez (2-1, 2.13) to the hill against Rome right-hander Arodys Vizcaino (4-3, 4.54 ERA).

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 17, 2010


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