Charleston starter Sean Black tossed a complete game four-hitter in game one in a 7-0 shutout, but Savannah responded with a 4-1 triumph in game two in a Saturday doubleheader in front of 4,042 fans in South Atlantic League action at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
The RiverDogs sit at 22-20, 53-58 overall, while the Sand Gnats broke a six-game losing streak in game two, sporting a record of 16-26, 58-54 overall.
Black (6-7) shined in notching his second win in a row for the first time since May, tossing the first complete game for the RiverDogs since August 14, 2008. The former Seton Hall Pirate led Charleston to its sixth shutout of the season, first since May 26 vs. Greenville in a game that Black threw 7.0 shutout frames.
The RiverDogs lit the scoreboard first, when Kelvin Castro’s 18th double of the year off Sand Gnats starter Armando Rodriguez plated Neil Medchill for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Charleston put the contest out of reach with six in the bottom of the fourth, increasing the margin to 7-0. DeAngelo Mack blasted a two-run shot deep over the right-field wall to boost the RiverDogs’ to 3-0. The former South Carolina Gamecock’s team-leading 11th home run of the year brought Luke Murton home from first, who singled to open the frame.
With the bases loaded and two outs, J.R. Murphy ripped his second triple of the year to left-centerfield, scoring Kelvin Castro, Francisco Santana and Slade Heathcott, bumping the Charleston lead up to 6-0. Rob Lyerly’s RBI single produced the final run of the inning.
Rodriguez (6-7) takes the loss after giving up eight hits and seven earned runs, with five strikeouts, in 3.2 innings of work.
After starving for offense in Game 1, the Sand Gnats wasted little time getting on the board in Game 2. Cesar Puello’s fielder’s choice brought James Schroeder home from third for a 1-0 against Josh Romanski. Schroeder, who joined the club earlier this month, knocked his first South Atlantic League double to left to reach base, moved to third on Robbie Shields’ single to left.
Savannah starter Darin Gorski issued two walks and hit Heathcott with a pitch to load the bases with no outs in the third, but Charleston recorded three straight outs to keep the 1-0 lead intact.
The RiverDogs failed to get a hit against Gorski, through the first four innings, but did crack into the scoring column in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score at 1-1. Kevin Mahoney was hit by a pitch from to open the frame, and moved all the way to third on Hector Rabago’s sacrifice bun and subsequent Savannah throwing error. Heathcott’s sacrifice fly to left allowed Mahoney to move home from third to tie the game, but Charleston exited the inning still without a base hit through five.
Romanski took a no-decision, scattering seven hits over 5.0 full innings, with a walk and six punchouts, including five of the final six batters he faced.
However, the 1-1 stalwart did not last long, as R.J. Harris blasted a 2-0 pitch from Charleston reliever Ryan Flannery (5-5) barely inside the left-field pole for a three-shot and his fourth home run of the year. It was the first home run allowed by Flannery in his three-year career over the course of 136 innings pitched.
Murton finally registered the RiverDogs first hit with a single to leadoff the sixth, which was the only hit allowed by Gorski (5-6). The southpaw worked 5.1 innings allowing one unearned run with three walks, two hit batsmen and six strikeouts.
Emerson Landon doubled against reliever Brandon Sage to bring the tying run to the plate with one out, but Mack struck out and Mahoney lined out to thwart the threat.
Michael Powers pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn his 15th save, tied for fourth-best in the SAL.
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