Sanmartin Delievers Quality Outing as RiverDogs Drop Second Straight

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Southpaw Reiver Sanmartin tossed his second consecutive quality start with six innings and two runs allowed, but the Charleston RiverDogs were defeated by the Hagerstown Suns, 3-1, in front of 4,059 at Joe Riley Park on Sunday evening.
Sanmartin (2-5) allowed a pair of Hagerstown (45-69, 17-29) runs in the first, as the Suns started the game with three straight hits, but the Colombian-born lefty allowed just three hits the rest of his outing while striking out six. It was Sanmartin's third quality start in his last four times out but has struggled to get run support. The RiverDogs have scored three or fewer runs in all five of Sanmartin's losing decisions, totaling 10 runs in those five games.
RiverDogs starting pitching has given up 15 earned runs in 58 innings (2.33 ERA) over the last 10 contests, but the Dogs are 4-6 during that span.

Charleston (54-62, 21-27) was held scoreless until the fifth until left fielder Mitchell Hansen ripped an RBI automatic double that bounced over the right field wall, scoring third baseman Welfrin Mateo. Ten of Hansen's 20 RiverDogs hits have gone for extra bases, with five doubles and as many triples. Because of the ground-rule double, Wilkerman had to hold up at third and the Dogs went on to strand the bases loaded.
In the top of the sixth, RiverDogs center fielder Leonardo Molina threw out Hagerstown catcher Alex Dunlap trying to score on a single and collided with Charleston catcher Jerry Seitz. Both players were shaken up and attended to by the training staff. Dunlap was taken to the clubhouse while Seitz finished out the game behind the plate.
Hagerstown added a seventh inning tally on a Seitz passed ball, leading to an unearned run on reliever Anderson Severino's ledger. Carlos Espinal pitched a scoreless ninth, keeping the Charleston deficit at two heading into the final half inning.
Designated hitter Oswaldo Cabrera started the home half with a single off Phil Morse, but the Suns closer retired the next three hitters, earning his third save.
Second baseman David Metzgar had a 10-game hitting streak snapped in the loss which dated back to May 5 during his first stint with Charleston. Right fielder Carlos Vidal collected two hits, including an eighth inning double off the base of the right center field wall.
Ballpark Fun
It was a Holy City Sunday where MUSC Children's Health Kids Club members got in free, ate for free, and ran the bases postgame. The RiverDogs celebrated Jewish Heritage and it was also Autism Awareness Day at The Joe.
 
Upcoming
The four-game series concludes on Monday at 7:05 as right-hander Nolan Martinez (0-1, 3.00) makes his second Charleston start, matching up with Hagerstown righty Tomas Alastre (4-6, 5.11). The RiverDogs will transform into the Charleston Rainbows in conjunction with Pride Night, celebrating diversity and inclusion while the team wears retro uniforms of the San Diego Padres and later Texas Rangers affiliate who played at College Park from 1985-1993. Monday's series finale can be heard on "The Big Talker" WTMA 1250 AM with streaming live at riverdogs.com and the RiverDogs' TuneIn radio station.
RiverDogs single-game tickets, including options to the Riley Park Club, are available for the remainder of the 2018 campaign, the club's 25^th season as the RiverDogs and their "175^th season in dog years." Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com.
--RIVERDOGS--