RiverDogs Toss Combined One-Hitter in Opening Night Victory
Three Charleston RiverDogs pitchers combined to surrender just one hit in a 2-0 opening night shutout of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. A standing room only crowd of 6,176 watched Santiago Suarez, Hayden Snelsire and Gerlin Rosario confuse Cannon Ballers throughout the evening. The trio combined for 11 strikeouts and allowed
Three Charleston RiverDogs pitchers combined to surrender just one hit in a 2-0 opening night shutout of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. A standing room only crowd of 6,176 watched Santiago Suarez, Hayden Snelsire and Gerlin Rosario confuse Cannon Ballers throughout the evening. The trio combined for 11 strikeouts and allowed just three baserunners all night.
The RiverDogs (1-0) missed an opportunity to take the lead right out of the gates. Kannapolis (0-1) starter Seth Keener walked the first two batters he faced. Woo Shin bounced to short advancing both runners into scoring position. Angel Mateo struck out and then Raudelis Martinez followed with a line drive back up the middle that knocked the glove off Keener’s hand. The pitcher picked up the ball and threw him out just in time to escape the frame.
Offense was at a premium for the next several innings. The RiverDogs finally broke through in the seventh. Shin began the frame by working a walk off reliever Mark McLaughlin. With the runner on the move, Mateo lined a base hit to center field, allowing Shin to race to third. With the infield in, Mateo quickly stole second and Martinez gave the RiverDogs the lead with a sacrifice fly to center field. Carlos Colmenarez followed with a single to shallow right and the lead was 2-0.
That was plenty of cushion for the bullpen. Snelsire retired the side in order in the top of the eighth to earn the win. He did not allow a hit and struck out three. Rosario slammed the door with a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth. Suarez picked up where he left off in 2023, dominating over 5.0 frames. The 19-year-old whiffed six and allowed only a third inning single.
Ballpark Fun
The RiverDogs broke the seal on a new season by pulling out all of the stops. The players paraded into the ballpark through the left field entrance and around the concourse to the home dugout to kick off the festivities. Later, Mayor William Cogswell tossed out the ceremonial first pitch on his first opening night in office. The first 3.500 fans into the ballpark also received a magnet schedule.
The series continues Saturday evening at 6:05 p.m. RHP Chandler Murphy will make his RiverDogs debut on the mound in a match-up against LHP Lucas Gordon of Kannapolis. The first 2,000 fans into the game will receive a replica 2023 championship ring courtesy of Nucor Steel.