RiverDogs Mow Grasshoppers, 10-3

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A six-run ninth inning gave the RiverDogs plenty of cushion in a 10-3 victory over Greensboro in South Atlantic League action at NewBridge Bank Park Sunday afternoon.

 

The RiverDogs scored double-digit runs for just the fourth time this year and break a three-game skid in upping their record to 14-16, 45-54, while the Grasshoppers snap a four-game home win streak in dropping to 15-15, 47-53 overall.

 

With a 4-2 lead in the ninth, the RiverDogs erupted for six runs on four extra-base hits to balloon the advantage to 10-2. Emerson Landoni led off with a solo home - his second of the season - against Sandy Rosario growing the lead to 5-2.

 

After a flyout, Slade Heathcott was hit by a pitch, and Kelvin Castro grounded into a fielder's choice. A two-out double by Jimmy Paredes moved runners to second and third, and a wild pitch scored Castro for a 6-2 lead. Neil Medchill walked, Luke Murton cracked a RBI double, and Rob Lyerly crushed his second three-run home run of the series off left-hander Ramon Benjamin to complete the six-run outburst.

 

Greensboro loaded the bases in the bottom half against Francisco Gil and scored a run on Jose Duarte's RBI walk, but Dallas Poulk bounced into a 4-6-3 double play - Charleston's fourth twin-killing of the game - for a 10-3 final.

 

Charleston notched a four-run, four-hit second inning against Greensboro's Edgar Olmos to snatch a 4-0 lead. Lyerly singled, Landoni doubled, and then Hector Rabago cranked a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for his second home run of the year and a 3-0 cushion. Castro added a RBI double later in the inning to conclude the festivities.

 

Olmos (2-4) gave up nine hits in 5.2 innings, while walking two and fanning four.

 

Greensboro's first hit against Jose Ramirez did not come until the fourth inning, but Justin Bass' 17^th home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left-field wall to tie for second in the SAL in circuit clouts, cut the score to 4-2. It was the first home run allowed by Ramirez in 95 innings pitched this season.

 

The Grasshoppers loaded the bases with two outs, but Ramirez got Duarte to pop out to end the threat.

 

Ramirez (5-4) has now won consecutive starts for the first time since Aug. 2009, working 5.0 full innings with two runs allowed on four hits, with four walks and three-strikeouts.

 

Of Charleston's 14 hits, nine went for extra bases, after registering just two extra-base knocks over the last three games. Rabago drilled a homer and added a pair of doubles, while Landoni smacked a home run and a double, Lyerly hit his second home run in as many contests, Paredes roped a pair of two-baggers, and Castro and Murton each contributed a RBI double.

 

The third game of this tilt takes place Monday at 7 p.m., with the RiverDogs pitching right-hander Brett Marshall (1-1, 3.54 ERA) against Greensboro right-hander Robert Morey (0-1, 2.53 ERA), a fifth round pick by the Marlins in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.