SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Rome Keeps Right on Raking, Tops Charleston, 9-4

Published on June 2, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - David Rohm and Edward Salcedo homered to lead a potent Rome attack, as the Braves downed the Charleston RiverDogs, 9-4, in South Atlantic League action Thursday night in front of a sellout crowd of 6,483 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Rome improved to 21-33 with its second straight victory, while Charleston matched a season-high five game losing streak in falling to 22-32. The RiverDogs have now lost 10 out of 12 and sit at a season-worst 10 games under .500.

Rome registered back-to-back two-out hits to take a 2-0 lead off Charleston starter Mikey O'Brien (3-4) in the top of the first inning.

Chris Garcia ripped an opposite field double to put runners at second and third for the red-hot Jakob Dalfonso. Dalfonso continued his tear, lining a RBI single to left to drive in one run and score another, when J.R. Murphy mishandled Ramon Flores' throw from the outfield.

The Braves cracked three more base knocks to push their advantage to 3-0 in the second inning. Elmer Reyes stroked a leadoff single, advanced to second on a groundout, and was sent scurrying to the plate on a Matt Lipka RBI single through the originator.

O'Brien rebounded to retire the side 1-2-3 in the third, but the Rome attack produced some more two-out damage to advance its cushion to 4-0 in the fourth frame. Bobby Hefflinger led off with a double, and touched the plate on Lipka's second RBI single of the contest.

Rome tallied two more runs with the benefit of just one hit in the fifth inning to extend its advantage to 6-0. Salcedo started the rally with a single, and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Rohm manufactured the final run of the frame, lifting a sacrifice fly to center field that was deep enough to send Garcia on the 90-foot trek from third base to home.

O'Brien exited after 4.1 innings, marking his shortest showing of the campaign and breaking a streak of eight straight starts of at least five innings. The 5-11 right-hander did not notch a strikeout, and yielded the six runs on nine hits and a walk.

Charleston was held to three singles by Rome starter Ryan Weber (2-0) over the opening five innings, but punched through to slice the deficit in half in the last of the sixth.

Flores found the left-center field gap with a double, and Anderson Feliz walked to set the stage for Eduardo Sosa. Sosa fell behind, but crushed a 0-1 offering well over the right-field fence for his second round-tripper of the year, as the RiverDogs pulled within 6-3.

Dalfonso and Rohm teamed up to raise the Braves' lead to 8-3 in the top of the seventh off RiverDogs reliever Kramer Sneed. Dalfonso looped a soft liner to right field in front of Rohm, who clubbed a no-doubt, two-run blast over the scoreboard in left field. The majestic home run was the third of the year for Rohm, two of which have come at The Joe.

Sneed was bitten by the long ball again in the eighth, as the Braves regained a six-run cushion at 9-3. Salcedo did the honors this time, pumping a sky-scraping homer clear of the wall in left, field for his sixth circuit clout of the season.

Weber was magnificent over his season-high 7.0 innings, utilizing four double play balls to help weave his way in and out of trouble. The recently-converted reliever permitted three runs on six hits and a walk while fanning two.

J.R. Murphy hit a laser of a home run in the bottom of the ninth for his sixth jack of the year, providing the final 9-4 margin. Rome reliever Tyler Stovall surrendered the rocket, but capped the night with yet another 6-4-3 double play to put Charleston to bed.

BALLPARK FUN: The RiverDogs were proud to honor Charleston's bravest on Firefighter Appreciation Night, presented by ServiceMaster. Lowcountry firefighters enjoyed a pregame picnic in Brittlebank Park and received free tickets to the game. Pregame and in-game festivities ensured that the local heroes got their just due from the crowd, along with the ballplayers themselves. It was also another Budweiser Thirsty Thursday. With $1 beers in the Ashley View Pub and fresh music courtesy of the stylings of DJ Natty Heavy, the extended weekend got off to a rollicking start at The Joe.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Zach Nuding (4-4, 5.66 ERA) is expected to toe the slab as Charleston looks to get back in the win column in the third of the four-game series. Fellow righty Aaron Northcraft (2-0, 1.50 ERA) is set to oppose Nuding for Rome.

All Brownies, Daisies and Girl Scouts will be recognized for their dedicated service during our annual Girl Scout Night. Following the game, the young ladies will head onto the diamond for a girls-only slumber party. The RiverDogs will also take time to shed light on the terrific high school baseball and softball that have been played in the Lowcountry over the past year. The players and coaches of the year, as named by The Post and Courier, will be recognized and immortalized with plaques in the beer garden. First-team performers will also get to share the field with the Yankees of tomorrow in a pregame ceremony. On Force Protection Industries, Inc. Red Shirt Friday, all patrons wearing a red shirt to the game will blend in with the players on the field and receive a $1 off their walkup admission ticket. If you're feeling charitable, you may donate that dollar to a military family with parents fighting overseas. Piggly Wiggly Postgame Fireworks will once again illuminate the night sky, making sure everyone goes home a winner and with a smile.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 2, 2011


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