The Charleston RiverDogs lost their fourth straight game at the hands of the Rome Braves on Thursday night 3-1.
The RiverDogs got out to a good start again scoring in the top of the second on a bases loaded walk by left fielder Brandon Thomas to take a 1-0 lead. The RiverDogs got set up after a two out fielding error by the Braves third baseman Ross Wilson, Jackson Valera singled and Gosuke Katoh walked to load them up.
Luis Niebla got the start for the RiverDogs and went six solid innings giving up four hits and two unearned runs in the loss. The Braves got their run back right away in the bottom of the second after a double and a fielding error by third baseman Miguel Andujar.
The Braves took the lead for good in the bottom of the third as a leadoff single got turned into a run after two errors from shortstop Tyler Wade that made it a 2-1 Braves lead. The Braves scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth after a double and a run scoring balk by new RiverDog pitcher Evan Rutckyj. Rutckyj went two innings and gave up two hits and one run while striking out two.
The RiverDogs got good contributions from first baseman Mike Ford again as he went 2-for-4 to continue a hot stretch at the plate hitting .382 over his last 10 games with two home runs and 10 RBI. Dustin Fowler went 2-for-4 with a run scored to round out the offense.
The RiverDogs (56-61) are back at it tomorrow night against the Braves sending right hander Rookie Davis to the mound.
