Andujar Slugs RiverDogs to Road Win

AUGUSTA, GA - Miguel Andujar sparked a fourth-inning rally and brought in a late insurance run as the Charleston RiverDogs claimed a 4-1 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets on Sunday afternoon at Lake Olmstead Stadium in South Atlantic League action.

The win closed a four-game set at Augusta, evening the series at two wins apiece for the RiverDogs and the GreenJackets. Both squads are now 2-2 for the season. Charleston returns home after the road trip to host a seven-game homestand that begins on Monday at 7:05pm.

Charleston's Brady Lail and Augusta's Carlos Diaz were equally matched through the first three innings. Each pitcher recorded four strikeouts while keeping the game scoreless.

Andujar came through in the fourth inning to build a 3-0 RiverDogs lead. Aaron Judge and Mike Ford led off the frame with singles. Andujar scored both runners on a double while he advanced safely to third base after a GreenJackets error. Andujar was brought in by an Eduardo de Oleo single for a three-run edge.

In the bottom of the fourth, Augusta cut the deficit to 3-1. With two outs and Ryan Tuntland at first base, Shawn Payne singled to keep the inning alive and Tyler Horan followed with a double that plated Tuntland and got the GreenJackets on the scoreboard.

Lail completed the rest of the fourth unscathed and finished six innings in a winning effort. He struck out five in the first quality start for the RiverDogs this season.

The RiverDogs could not touch GreenJackets reliever Ryan Jones until the eighth inning to improve Charleston's lead. Andujar singled in Judge and put the RiverDogs up 4-1. Andujar went 3-of-4 while driving in three runs and scoring the remaining tally for Charleston.

On the mound, reliever Cesar Vargas kept Augusta at bay, striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth. Nick Rumbelow followed in the ninth inning with a scoreless frame that ended the contest.

With the victory, Lail's record is 1-0 after his RiverDogs debut. Diaz dropped to 0-1 as the losing pitcher for the GreenJackets. Rumbelow, who was also in his first appearance with the RiverDogs, picked up his first save of the season.

COMING UP: Charleston returns to The Joe for a seven-game homestand, which starts with a visit from the Greenville Drive on Monday at 7:05pm. LHP Caleb Smith (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to start the RiverDogs home opener against Greenville RHP Mario Alcantara (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Charleston hosts its in-state rival for Monday's grand Opening Night celebration, complete with $1 hot dogs and $1 beers presented by Coors. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line at www.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

Box Score: http://atmilb.com/1lENy2V

--RIVERDOGS--