RiverDogs Topple Tourists with Ninth Inning Rally

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Charleston RiverDogs capitalized on a pair of ninth inning errors to complete a ninth inning comeback for the first time all season as they roared past Asheville, 7-5, on Thursday night at McCormick Field.
Down by a pair and 0-13 when trailing after eight previously, the RiverDogs (25-22) looked alive in the ninth once again after they had managed to score on Asheville (18-28) in the final frame each of the past two nights in comeback efforts that fell short.
Designated hitter Canaan Smith continued his fantastic season with Charleston, lacing a 3-2 pitch to left-center for a double to kick off the frame, his first knock of the night to extend his hitting streak to nine straight; he continues to pace the Dogs while ranking among the top-5 in the league in batting (.336) and OPS (.911). First baseman Mickey Gasper followed with a ground ball to second that was misplayed by Terrin Vavra, putting runners at the corners and nobody out.
Tourists closer Alexander Martinez (1-3) folded under the ninth inning pressure for a second time in the series, next walking Frederick Cuevas on four pitches to set up a chance for Kyle Gray. The RiverDogs second baseman rapped a ball back to the mound that was thrown away past first, scoring pinch-runner Ricky Surum and tying the contest at five apiece. After an intentional walk to load the bases with two outs, Eduardo Torrealba hit a high chopper to second not suitable for a double play, scoring the go-ahead tally that made it 6-5 RiverDogs. Left fielder Brandon Lockridge laced the first pitch he saw to left-center for an extra tally to make it a 7-5 lead.
In his second appearance since a call up from Extended Spring Training, North Carolina native Bryan Blanton pitched around a one-out double from Johnny Cresto to hold the Tourists at bay and secure the save and Charleston's first ninth inning comeback of the season.
Charleston snapped a streak of six straight allowing the game's first run when Gray and third baseman Max Burt ripped back-to-back pitches out of the ballpark to make it 3-0 RiverDogs in the second.
After an unearned tally off starter Alexander Vizcaino in the third, Asheville took their first lead on a three-run homer by Kyle Datres in the fourth inning. A walk and another Charleston error set the table for the go-ahead blast, the third of the season for the former Tarheel infielder.
One day removed from his 22^nd birthday, Vizcaino had his strikeout stuff working, fanning eight of the first 14 Tourists that he faced. The Dominican-born righty flashed 97 mph velocity and finished with 10 punchouts for a second straight start to tie a career-high. He allowed four runs, only two earned in part due to three RiverDogs errors, over 4 2/3 innings on the night to bump his ERA up to 3.27.

Upcoming
The RiverDogs will try to force a series split with the Tourists in Friday night's series finale at 7:05 p.m. from historic McCormick Field. Charleston is scheduled to send righty Luis Medina (0-2, 8.46) to the bump. The 20-year-old arm waivered early his last time out, giving up four runs and walking three batters in the first inning, before settling in to finish the next 3 1/3 scoreless. The hard-throwing righty has showcased electric stuff with 31 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings this year but entered play Thursday leading the SAL circuit in walks (29). Asheville will throw righty Shelby Lackey (1-5, 5.15) in opposition.
Fans can catch the game on WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area and online streaming on the TuneIn Radio app. Fans can "Make Fun" with the RiverDogs all season long down at The Joe. Single-game tickets, including options to the Riley Park Club, are available at riverdogs.com/tickets or by contacting the RiverDogs front office at 843-577-3647 (DOGS). A full schedule and list of game times for the 2019 season is available at riverdogs.com.
--RIVERDOGS--