CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston RiverDogs scored three runs in the first inning before an out was recorded and never looked back, cruising to a 4-2 victory over the Savannah Sand Gnats in front of 6,061 fans Thursday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Following a 13-4 victory over Savannah in the conclusion of Sunday’s suspended game, the RiverDogs wasted no time getting the offense rolling again. Abiatal Avelino, Jorge Mateo, Dustin Fowler, and Connor Spencer all singled. Fowler’s base hit drove in Avelino and Spencer’s drove in Mateo and Fowler. Throwing errors by pitcher Brad Wieck and left fielder Stefan Sabol also helped the RiverDogs’ cause.
Avelino singled again in the second inning, stole second base, and came home on an RBI single by Mateo. Savannah (5-9) cut Charleston’s (10-5) lead in half with two home runs in the top of the fourth. Wuilmer Becerra and Tomas Nido both blasted solo shots to left-center field and made the score 4-2 RiverDogs.
With the exception of the two solo home runs, Andre Del Bosque had an impressive first start of his professional career. The righty went five strong innings and earned his first win of the season. Cale Coshow struck out three batters in a four-out save, his fourth of the season. Coshow is tied with Donnie Hart (Delmarva) for the South Atlantic League lead in saves.
BALLPARK FUN: Where do we begin? In addition to a packed house on a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday, the Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance prior to, and during the game. Emilie Woody of Wando High was named the Charleston County School District’s Teacher of the Year and was honored on the field in front of a large crowd of colleagues with a year’s use of a MINI Cooper and $1,000 cash from the RiverDogs. Director of Fun Bill Murray was once again at the park and was entertaining actor Danny McBride and food aficionado Anthony Bourdain, who has been in town all week and was filming part of an upcoming show during the game.
COMING UP: The RiverDogs and Sand Gnats square off again tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. in the second of four games. The RiverDogs have yet to name a starter, while the Sand Gnats are set to throw RHP Casey Meisner (1-0, 2.45). You can catch the action on “The Big Talker” 1250 WTMA, WTMA.com, RiverDogs.com and MiLB.tv.
Tomorrow is the second ISHPI Red Shirt Friday of the season and it is presented by WEZL, with postgame fireworks over the scenic Ashley River presented by Home Telecom. Support the military by wearing red and when you come to the box office, you can and receive $1 off your ticket. Fans will have the option to donate that dollar to Canines for Veterans, who will once again bring “Titus the Bat Dog” to perform his batboy duties during the game. The RiverDogs will wear special red jerseys as a show of support for our military. We will also be celebrating Arbor Day all evening with fun for the whole family. The club will present a ceremonial planting of a Crepe Myrtle outside The Joe in the adjacent VIP parking lot at 6 pm. The new tree is part of the 10,000 Trees for Charleston Initiative, and one lucky fan will be able to take home a five-foot Live Oak tree.
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