Asheville Tourists Defeat Charleston RiverDogs 5-2, Mathew Reynolds Earns Win in Relief - SAL

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Down 2-1 entering the top of the ninth, the Asheville Tourists scored four unearned runs to defeat the Charleston RiverDogs, 5-2, in South Atlantic League action Saturday night in front of 5,071 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

The Tourists took advantage of reliever Jonathan Ortiz’s wild throw to third base on a come-backer that opened the flood gates open for the Tourists to increase their lead in the Southern Division to 1.5 games over second-place Charleston.

With the victory, Asheville improves to 29-14 while Charleston falls to 27-15.  The Tourists are now 5-1 against the RiverDogs on the season, all coming in the last 11 days.

Warren Schaeffer led off the ninth with a double to left, and Helder Velazquez followed with an infield hit that sent Schaeffer to third.  Velazquez stole second base as Beau Seabury struck out, leaving runners on second and third with one away.

Everth Cabrera then lined a come-backer to the mound.  Ortiz (0-1) fielded the ball cleanly and appeared to have Schaeffer caught too far off of third, but he threw wildly and into the left field bullpen allowing Schaeffer and Velazquez to score the tying and go-ahead runs.

After Michael Mitchell struck out for the second out, Brian Rike drew a walk and Darin Holcomb followed with a double that plated both Cabrera and Rike to provide the final margin.

Charleston had taken an early lead by plating a pair of runs in the fourth against Asheville starter Cory Riordan.  Justin Snyder bunted to third for an infield hit and Braedyn Pruitt followed with a single through the right side, sending Snyder to third. 

Jesus Montero then reached first on a fielder’s choice to shortstop, on which Asheville second baseman Everth Cabrera dropped a throw that he probably should have turned into a double-play.  Snyder scored on the play and both other runners were safe.

Brian Baisley then singled to right field, loading the bases, and Taylor Holiday grounded into a double-play on which scored Pruitt an unearned run.

Asheville scored their first run in the seventh with two out as Beau Seabury doubled to right and scored on Cabrera’s RBI single to center against reliever Craig Heyer.

Both starters pitched well, but neither figured in the decision.  Charleston’s Lance Pendleton went five complete frames and struck out eight while scattering two hits and walked four. 

Asheville’s Riordan pitched seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits wile recording five punchouts.  

Matthew Reynolds (2-0), who came on in the eighth inning, picked up the win after tossing one scoreless frame.  Closer Randall Taylor earned his league-leading 12th save of the season in as many chances.

Charleston recorded nine hits on the night with Justin Snyder, Pruitt and Dave Williams each noting a pair each.  Asheville, which had a total of eight nits, was led by Darin Holcomb and Schaeffer with two each.

The game was delayed for 18 minutes before the top of the seventh inning as home plate umpire Koyu Inoue became ill and was replaced by Rich Behrends.  Mario Seneca, who had been calling the bases, moved to the plate.