Marshall Law Reigns Over Rome, Dogs Blast Braves 11-0
CHARLESTON, SC -- After back-to-back
shutouts, the RiverDogs erupted in front of 4,271 fans on an overcast
Friday evening, walloping Rome, 11-0 in South Atlantic League action at
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park
With the victory, Charleston improves to 28-26, 59-64 overall, while Rome sits at 23-31, 53-70 overall. The RiverDogs posted a 9-3 record against the Braves in 12 meeting at Riley Park this season, and have won 17 of the last 22 meetings.
Charleston was blanked on just five combined singles over the last two nights, but finally crunched a 19-inning scoreless steak, when a wild pitch from Rome's Aaron Northcraft allowed Luke Murton to score for a 1-0 lead.
With Neil Medchill and Kevin Mahoney in scoring position following another wild pitch, Francisco Santana blasted his fifth double of the year to right, plating both runners and boosting the RiverDogs lead to 3-0. Santana moved to third on a throwing error and ultimately scored on the third wild pitch of the inning from Northcraft, giving Charleston a 4-0 advantage going into the third.
That was more than enough for Brett Marshall (3-2), who tossed 6.0 innings of scoreless ball, giving up just three hits and ringing up five batters. The Highlands, Tex. native won his first home start since May 23, 2009 and has given up just one earned run in his last four starts combined, spanning 23.0 total innings.
Not content with a four-run lead, the RiverDogs kept their foot on the gas in the bottom of the fourth, when Kelvin Castro blasted a 0-2 pitch from Northcraft deep over the scoreboard in left field for his second home run of the year, both of which have come against the Braves. Castro's longball scored Mahoney as well, boosting the RiverDogs lead to 6-0 going into the fifth.
Aaron Northcraft (0-1) takes the loss for Rome, after giving up six hits and five earned runs in 3.2 innings of work in his SAL debut.
The RiverDogs offensive onslaught continued with another big inning from the Charleston bats, this time a four-run, four-hit frame in the bottom of the fifth. Rob Lyerly and Murton opened the inning off with back-to-back singles, with Lyerly coming home on Mahoney's RBI single, RiverDogs 7-0.
With Mahoney and Murton on base, Castro walked to load the bases for Heathcott. Rome reliever Tyler Stovall hit Heathcott with a pitch to bring Murton home, Charleston 8-0. DeAngelo Mack then ripped a two-run single to plate Mahoney and Castro, giving Charleston a 10-0 lead going into the seventh.
Heathcott added an RBI single to make the Charleston lead 11-0 going into the eighth inning.
A three-hit performance from Heathcott paced the RiverDogs attack, while Mack, Murton, Mahoney and Santana each had a pair of knocks.
The RiverDogs head to the Upstate to take on their SAL Southern Division rivals the Greenville Drive, the Single-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, for a four-game set. Charleston sends right-hander Mike Solbach (3-4, 4.22) to the mound, while Greenville counters with left-hander Drake Britton (1-1, 2.92).
BALLPARK FUN: It was another fun-filled Force Protection Red Shirt Friday at Riley Park! Fans got $1 off their tickets at the RiverDogs Box Office if they got in on the action and wore a red shirt to the game. It was also the club's final Fritos Family Friday, with six lucky fans getting to take their "Be Your Own Fan!" experience beyond the bleachers as they took part in a number of activities around The Joe. Representatives from Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure were also on hand to raise awareness for prostate cancer. Fans even got to record themselves singing or performing in the concourse thanks to Carolina Studios! Also, Mark Bryan, the lead guitarist from South Carolina's own Hootie and the Blowfish, was at The Joe. After the RiverDog bats provided fireworks on the field, fans turned their eyes to sky as Piggly Wiggly presented post game fireworks!
With the victory, Charleston improves to 28-26, 59-64 overall, while Rome sits at 23-31, 53-70 overall. The RiverDogs posted a 9-3 record against the Braves in 12 meeting at Riley Park this season, and have won 17 of the last 22 meetings.
Charleston was blanked on just five combined singles over the last two nights, but finally crunched a 19-inning scoreless steak, when a wild pitch from Rome's Aaron Northcraft allowed Luke Murton to score for a 1-0 lead.
With Neil Medchill and Kevin Mahoney in scoring position following another wild pitch, Francisco Santana blasted his fifth double of the year to right, plating both runners and boosting the RiverDogs lead to 3-0. Santana moved to third on a throwing error and ultimately scored on the third wild pitch of the inning from Northcraft, giving Charleston a 4-0 advantage going into the third.
That was more than enough for Brett Marshall (3-2), who tossed 6.0 innings of scoreless ball, giving up just three hits and ringing up five batters. The Highlands, Tex. native won his first home start since May 23, 2009 and has given up just one earned run in his last four starts combined, spanning 23.0 total innings.
Not content with a four-run lead, the RiverDogs kept their foot on the gas in the bottom of the fourth, when Kelvin Castro blasted a 0-2 pitch from Northcraft deep over the scoreboard in left field for his second home run of the year, both of which have come against the Braves. Castro's longball scored Mahoney as well, boosting the RiverDogs lead to 6-0 going into the fifth.
Aaron Northcraft (0-1) takes the loss for Rome, after giving up six hits and five earned runs in 3.2 innings of work in his SAL debut.
The RiverDogs offensive onslaught continued with another big inning from the Charleston bats, this time a four-run, four-hit frame in the bottom of the fifth. Rob Lyerly and Murton opened the inning off with back-to-back singles, with Lyerly coming home on Mahoney's RBI single, RiverDogs 7-0.
With Mahoney and Murton on base, Castro walked to load the bases for Heathcott. Rome reliever Tyler Stovall hit Heathcott with a pitch to bring Murton home, Charleston 8-0. DeAngelo Mack then ripped a two-run single to plate Mahoney and Castro, giving Charleston a 10-0 lead going into the seventh.
Heathcott added an RBI single to make the Charleston lead 11-0 going into the eighth inning.
A three-hit performance from Heathcott paced the RiverDogs attack, while Mack, Murton, Mahoney and Santana each had a pair of knocks.
The RiverDogs head to the Upstate to take on their SAL Southern Division rivals the Greenville Drive, the Single-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, for a four-game set. Charleston sends right-hander Mike Solbach (3-4, 4.22) to the mound, while Greenville counters with left-hander Drake Britton (1-1, 2.92).
-RIVERDOGS-
BALLPARK FUN: It was another fun-filled Force Protection Red Shirt Friday at Riley Park! Fans got $1 off their tickets at the RiverDogs Box Office if they got in on the action and wore a red shirt to the game. It was also the club's final Fritos Family Friday, with six lucky fans getting to take their "Be Your Own Fan!" experience beyond the bleachers as they took part in a number of activities around The Joe. Representatives from Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure were also on hand to raise awareness for prostate cancer. Fans even got to record themselves singing or performing in the concourse thanks to Carolina Studios! Also, Mark Bryan, the lead guitarist from South Carolina's own Hootie and the Blowfish, was at The Joe. After the RiverDog bats provided fireworks on the field, fans turned their eyes to sky as Piggly Wiggly presented post game fireworks!