Charleston Rallies in Ninth, But Falls to Greensboro, 7-6

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The RiverDogs scored four ninth-inning runs to slice into a 7-2 deficit, but the tying run was left at third base in a 7-6 defeat at the hands of the Greensboro Grasshoppers in South Atlantic League action at NewBridge Bank Park Monday evening.

 

Greensboro improves to 16-15, 48-53, while Charleston drops to 14-17, 45-55.

 

Arquimedes Caminero was summoned to protect a 7-2 lead in the ninth for Greensboro, but for the second time in the series, he did not retire a batter. Neil Medchill walked, DeAngelo Mack singled, and Emerson Landoni walked to load the bases.

 

A.J. Ramos was brought in and gave up a first-pitch RBI single to Francisco Santana, cutting the lead to 7-3. With the bases still loaded, J.R. Murphy walked on four pitches to force home a run for a 7-4 score.

 

Slade Heathcott was caught looking on a 3-2 pitch for the first out, but Jimmy Paredes grounded a two-run single to centerfield bringing the margin to 7-6. After Rob Lyerly struck out, Luke Murton walked to reload the bases for Medchill.

 

Medchill, who walked to lead off the frame against Caminero, struck out versus Ramos to end the rally and give Ramos his 22^nd save, which is tied for the SAL lead.

 

Charleston took a 1-0 lead in the second against Grasshoppers starter Robert Morey, when Medchill was hit by a pitch, moved to third on Mack's double, and came plateward on Landoni's RBI groundout.

 

Morey worked a season-high 4.0 innings in a no-decision for Greensboro, giving up a run on three hits, while walking two and fanning four.

 

Greensboro answered with three runs on four hits in the bottom half against Brett Marshall to assume a 3-1 lead. Chad Cregar cracked a two-run home run for his 12^th of the

campaign, while Jose Duarte delivered a RBI single.

 

Duarte smashed a two-run home run in the fifth for his seventh of the year and a 5-1 cushion.

 

Marshall (1-2) threw a season-low 4.0 innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.

 

A two-out Charleston error and wild pitch allowed Duarte to bloop a RBI single to right against Ryan Acosta for a 6-1 advantage in the sixth.

 

Murphy inched the RiverDogs closer with a solo home run in the eighth off Curt Petersen, trimming the deficit to 6-2.

 

The Hoppers came right back in the bottom half, as another two-out Charleston error was followed by a RBI single from Chase Austin for a 7-2 score.

 

Petersen (4-8) earned the win in 4.0 innings of relief for the Grasshoppers - his first since June 18 - permitting a run on two hits with two walks and one punchout.

 

Mack and Santana had two hits each for Charleston, while Duarte went 4-for-5 with a home run and a season-high four RBI for Greensboro.

 

Game four of the series - and the last game of the road trip - begins at a special 12:30 p.m. start time on Tuesday, with the RiverDogs pitching southpaw Josh Romanski (5-3, 2.91 ERA) against Greensboro southpaw Jose Alvarez (8-3, 3.08 ERA), who is tied for third in the league in victories.