Four Run First too Much for RiverDogs to Overcome; Lexington Wins, 6-3
The 2017 Charleston RiverDogs season got underway Thursday night as the team sent Nick Green to the hill as their opening day starter against the Lexington Legends. A crowd of 5,692 packed Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Ballpark in anticipation of a great season under new manager Pat Osborn, but a four-run first inning by the Legends put the RiverDogs behind the eight-ball and they would eventually fall 6-3 on a cold night in Charleston.
Green got off to a good start when he retired the opening batter of the game, but Gabriel Cancel followed with an infield single before Kort Peterson was hit by a pitch. Chris DeVito followed and grounded a single into left field that scored Cancel. Both runners moved up on a throwing error and came home when Emmanuel Rivera grounded a single up the middle. Two batters later Amalani Fukofuka doubled to center to score Rivera and it was quickly 4-0 Legends.
Nolan Watson got the opening nod for Lexington and he made quick work of the first two hitters, but the RiverDogs were able to load the bases on walks and looked like they would get right back into the contest. However, the Legends’ starter remained cool, striking out Isiah Gilliam to end the threat.
The game would stay a four-run Lexington lead into the third when the RiverDogs would finally get on the board. With one out, Oswaldo Cabrera singled, giving the team their first hit of 2017. Blake Rutherford followed with a walk and both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Donny Sands then grounded out to score Cabrera and it was 4-1 Legends.
Watson saw his evening come to an end after the fourth inning and David McKay took over to start the bottom of the fifth. Charleston would jump on him right away. Rutherford began the frame with a single and stole second. McKay retired the next two batters and looked like he would leave the inning unscathed, but Gilliam drew a walk. Ball four was wild, allowing Rutherford to score to make it 4-2. After a walk to Leonardo Molina, Brandon Wagner singled to right, scoring Gilliam and it was a one-run game.
Albert Abreu had taken over for Green in the third and he was absolutely brilliant. He had breezed through the Lexington lineup, striking out six in four innings of work, and had kept the Legends off the board so that his team could get back into the game. However, Khalil Lee gave his team a little breathing room when he led off the seventh with a home run to make it 5-3.
Abreu pitched 4-innnings, allowing just 3-hits and a walk while striking out 6.
David Sosebee finished out the seventh and brought the heat. He struck out the final two batters in both the seventh and eighth innings, and would strike out two more in the ninth. However, he also gave up an RBI double to Cancel in the ninth that extended the lead for Lexington back to three.
Grant Gavin pitched the final four innings of the game for the Lexington Legends and was absolutely brilliant. He did not allow a single baserunner while striking out one and was credited with the win.
Khalil Lee finished 3-4 with 2-runs, an RBI and a home run for Lexington. Gabriel Cancel was 2-5 with a run and an RBI. Blake Rutherford led the way for the Charleston RiverDogs offense, going 1-3, with a run and 2-walks.
These two teams will go at it again tomorrow as Garrett Davila will go for the Legends against Freicer Perez. First pitch is at 7:05.
Read Feature on Charleston RiverDogs Manager Pat Osborn
By Robert Pannier