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SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Sand Gnats Rally Late to Top RiverDogs, 4-2

August 26, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Savannah scored two runs in both the eighth and ninth innings and rallied for a 4-2 victory over Charleston in South Atlantic League action Tuesday night in front of 3,102 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

With the victory, the Sand Gnats improve to 27-34 in the second half and 60-71 overall while the RiverDogs slip to 30-33 since the All-Star break and 75-58 on the season. Each team has won one game in this three-game set.

Charleston, behind starter Ryan Zink, had been cruising with a 1-0 lead but reliever Craig Heyer (7-1), who had a smooth seventh inning, ran into trouble and lost the first game of his professional career. Heyer, who pitched 1.2 frames, allowed two runs on three hits.

Zink had the best game of his RiverDogs career as he went six full frames and allowed only two hits while walking one and striking out five. He retired the last 10 batters he faced.

Charleston's pitchers had limited Savannah to only two hits after seven innings.

Richard Pena had two hits and two RBI for Savannah and Carlos Guzman came off the bench to drive home a pair of runs with a two-run double in the top of the ninth. In the Sand Gnats' final time at the plate, Jefferies Tatford reached base on an error by Justin Snyder and Nick Giarraputo drew a walk before Guzman doubled them home for Savannah's third and fourth runs.

The Sand Gnats scored twice in the eighth with two outs on Pena's two-run double to left.

Charleston opened the game's scoring with a run in the fourth when Snyder doubled to left, stole third and scored when Jesus Montero reached on a throwing error by Savannah shortstop Luis Nieves.

The hosts recorded their second run in the bottom of the ninth on a solo home run by Brandon Laird, who blasted his team-high 20th round tripper on a 1-1 pitch from reliever Jason Lavorgna (1-2).

Lavorgna pitched 2.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking out two. He gave way to closer Manny Olivares, who collected his first save of the season as he pitched the final two outs in the ninth.

Charleston could muster only six hits on the night with Montero recording two. Savannah had seven.

The final game of this three-game series and of the 2008 season is set for Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. with Charleston sending righty Lance Pendleton (7-8, 3.50 ERA) to the hill while Savannah counters with lefty Mark Cohoon (1-2, 5.09 ERA).

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