Drive Score Two Late, Steal Series Opener From Charleston 2-1
CHARLESTON , SC - Charleston's 16 inning shutout streak came to a crashing halt as Keaton Briscoe hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to lead the Greenville Drive past the Charleston RiverDogs 2-1 in front of 3,635 fans at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in South Atlantic League action on Tuesday night.
With the victory, Greenville improves to 11-8 in the second half and remains in second place just behind the Lexington Legends. Overall the Drive's record sits at 32-55. With the loss, the RiverDogs drop to 8-8 in the second half and 47-36 overall.
Both teams struggled offensively Tuesday night as runs came at a premium in an old fashioned pitcher's duel. The Drive broke out in the eighth inning off RiverDogs reliever James Pazos. Following a leadoff single by catcher Jordan Weems, second baseman Keaton Briscoe homered to right field just clearing the wall to give the Drive the lead for good.
Briscoe finished his evening 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBI's. Leading the charge for the Drive was Drew Turocy who finished 2-for-4 with a single, a double, and reached on an error. Aneury Tavarez also finished 2-for-4 with a single, a double, and two stolen bases, plus he made a fantastic catch in right centerfield to rob RiverDogs outfielder Danny Oh of an extra base hit.
Austin Maddox (3-5) picked up the win in relief of starter Cody Kukuk. Kukuk finished the night with six solid innings of one run baseball with one run allowed on five hits and six strikeouts. Maddox's final line was two innings of shutout one hit ball and he struck out two. J.B. Wendelken pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his eighth save of the season.
RiverDogs starter Vicente Campos amazed yet again on the mound as the righty went four innings, didn't allow a run, allowed just two hits and struck out two. Brett Gerritse relieved Campos to start the fifth and tossed three scoreless innings, that saw him scatter three hits while striking out five. James Pazos (1-1) took the loss allowing two runs on a hit with one walk in one inning of work. Zack Arneson pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for Charleston.
Offensively, the RiverDogs managed just six hits on the night, with two coming in the third inning. In that third inning with one out, Danny Oh singled and would later come around to score the RiverDogs lone run on an RBI double by Cito Culver.
Dante Bichette Jr. was the only RiverDog with multiple hits Tuesday as he ended his night going 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of singles.
BALLPARK FUN: HOPE Week began with a bang as the RiverDogs kicked off the five-day initiative by partnering with the American Lung Association. Participants from last year's HOPE Week initiative also attended the game and were recognized on the field.
COMING UP: The second game of this three-game series against Greenville is Wednesday night at 7:05 at Riley Park. RHP Luis Niebla (3-4, 6.19 ERA) will throw the first pitch of the game for Charleston, and Greenville will counter with righty Jacob Dahlstrand (1-4, 5.84 ERA). It's another Senior Wednesday presented by AAA Carolinas. All seniors (65+) who enter the gates before 7pm will get a free hot dog, Pepsi and bag of chips. Show your AAA card at the box office to buy one ticket and get one ticket free! It's also Gallo/Barefoot Wine Night at The Joe. It is the second day of HOPE Week where we partner with Lowcountry Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (LEAP). Tickets are available in person at the Riley Park Box Office, by calling 843/723-7241, or by visiting www.riverdogs.com. Fans can also listen to the game live locally on ESPN Radio 910AM or online at www.riverdogs.com.
--RIVERDOGS--