Peguero Comes Through as RiverDogs Walk-Off Fireflies 3-2
Odalys Peguero delivered a walk-off RBI single to right field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Charleston RiverDogs edged the Columbia Fireflies 3-2 on Wednesday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The RiverDogs have won the first two games of the series by
Odalys Peguero delivered a walk-off RBI single to right field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Charleston RiverDogs edged the Columbia Fireflies 3-2 on Wednesday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The RiverDogs have won the first two games of the series by the same score. Wednesday’s game was played in front of a crowd of 2,934.
The final inning began without much action as Nicholas Regalado retired the first two hitters without a problem. That quickly changed with consecutive walks to Carlos Colmenarez and Narciso Polanco. Those bases on balls put the winning run in scoring position for Peguero. The second baseman dropped a single into shallow right field as Colmenarez slid across home plate with the decisive run.
Charleston (6-5) received a booming solo home run from right fielder Angel Mateo in the second inning to open the scoring. The long ball was his second of the year and the team’s eighth. All eight of the round-trippers have been solo shots.
Columbia (6-5) pulled even in the fifth, the final inning tossed by starter Gary Gill Hill. Austin Charles worked a leadoff walk in that frame and stole second base. He scored on Jhonny Perdomo’s single through the right side of the infield.
A bases loaded wild pitch from Doug Kirkland allowed the RiverDogs to move back ahead by a 2-1 margin in the seventh. The Fireflies answered back in short order, tying the game on an RBI single from Erick Torres in the top of the eighth.
Catcher Dionmy Salon went 3-3 at the plate to lead the Fireflies offensive attack. Mateo finished 2-4 with a double and a home run for the RiverDogs.
Gill Hill did not factor in the decision after allowing just the one run in 5.0 innings. Columbia starter Ethan Bosack was also dominant, surrendering a single run on a lone hit in 6.0 innings. He struck out seven. Gerlin Rosario tossed 2.0 scoreless innings out of the Charleston bullpen, allowing only one baserunner. Will Stevens took home the win despite allowing one run in the eighth inning.
Ballpark Fun
The first installment of a three-piece championship bobblehead collection was handed out to the first 1,000 fans into the ballpark on Wednesday night. The bobblehead featured 2021 standout Curtis Mead, who is currently on the Tampa Bay Rays roster. Bobbleheads featuring Carson Williams and Xavier Isaac are coming later in the schedule.
RHP Santiago Suarez (1-0, 0.00) will be on the mound for the RiverDogs in game three of the series, slated for Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Emmanuel Reyes (1-0, 6.30) will toe the rubber for Columbia. $1 beers will be available throughout The Joe on the first Budweiser™ Thirsty Thursday of 2024.