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Charleston RiverDogs

Rufino's Blast Lifts Charleston As RiverDogs Caterwaul Catfish, 5-3

April 24, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


Designated-hitter Wady Rufino blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Charleston RiverDogs to a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the Columbus Catfish in South Atlantic League action Thursday night in front of 5,212 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

The first place RiverDogs improve to 18-3 on the season, marking the second-best record in all of professional baseball as the Pacific Coast League's Salt Lake Bees began the day with a 17-1 start. The win also gives Charleston 10 consecutive triumphs at home, including the last game in 2007.

Columbus falls to 9-12 and drops its fourth straight to Charleston. The Catfish could only muster four hits against the RiverDogs' pitching staff that had a league-best ERA of 2.67 entering the game.

Tied at 3-3 in the eighth, Charleston's Dave Williams led off the frame with a double to left against Columbus reliever Kevin Boggan (0-1). Williams was then tagged out trying to move to third base on the next batter Brandon Laird's fielder's choice.

With one out, Rufino sent an 0-1 pitch from Boggan flying over the left field scoreboard for his third home run of the season. Left fielder Steve Vogt could only watch in amazement.

Charleston then sent closer Jonathan Ortiz to the mound in the ninth and he struck out the side to finish the game, all on swinging third strikes. Ortiz earned his league-high seventh save in the process.

Jesse Hoover (2-0) picked up the win after allowing one run in two innings. He relieved starter Dellin Betances, who pitched six frames and fanned seven batters while allowing two runs on a pair of hits. Betances topped out at 96 miles per hour on the Riley Park radar gun.

Columbus pushed two runs across in the second inning to take a quick 2-0 lead. Reid Fronk and Vogt both drew walks off Betances to begin the rally. After a strikeout and a groundout, Omar Luna drilled a single to right field that plated Fronk. Vogt then scored on first baseman's Brandon Laird's throwing error at the back-end of the play.

The RiverDogs pulled within 2-1 in the third when Abraham Almonte singled, stole second and scored on Jesus Montero's RBI single to left. Montero has now hit safely in 19 of the club's 21 games to open the season.

In the sixth, the RiverDogs took their first lead of the contest at 3-2 when Bradley Suttle singled to left and scored on Laird's two-out, two-run home run to left field. It was his first SAL home run after hitting eight in the Gulf Coast League in 2007.

The Catfish came back to tie the game in the seventh as first-baseman Henry Wrigley stroked a two-out, 2-0 pitch from Hoover over the left-centerfield wall for a solo home run to make the score at 3-3.

The RiverDogs, who collected 10 hits on the night, were led by Suttle and Montero, who each had a pair. The Catfish did not have one player register more than one safety.

Game 2 of this four-game series is set for Friday at 7:05 p.m. with Charleston sending righty Lance Pendleton (1-0, 3.38 ERA) to the hill for his first start of the season. Columbus will counter with righty Alex Cobb (2-2, 2.45 ERA).

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 24, 2008


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