Hoy Jun Park Helps End Charleston RiverDogs Skid, 5-3
The Charleston RiverDogs returned home on Tuesday, looking to end their six-game losing streak. Five-runs within the first two-innings helped to put them on top by four, and they would hang on for the 5-3 victory over the West Virginia Power. Hoy Jun Park led the offense with 2-runs, 2-hits, and an RBI and five Charleston pitchers combined to end the skid.
Nick Green started for Charleston but he would last just one inning. After striking out he leadoff batter, Victor Fernandez walked and, two batters later, Hunter Owen doubled to moved Fernandez to third. Carlos Munoz then beat a ball just to the left of the pitcher’s mound and beat it out for a base hit. That scored Fernandez. A walk loaded the bases, but Green was able to retire Arden Pabst to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning Charleston responded with a run of their own. Park started the inning by singling into center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Angel Aguilar lined a base hit into left field that scored Park to tie the score at one.
In the second, Charleston would grab the lead. Brandon Wagner and Oswaldo Cabrera started off the inning with back-to-back singles. Next up was Dalton Blaser, who grounded a base hit just past the first baseman that scored Wagner to make it 2-1 RiverDogs. A fielder’s choice put runners at the corners and Park followed with a base hit that scored Moore. A ground out brought Ben Ruta home, and Estevan Florial followed with a single that brought Park home to make it 5-1.
It would stay that way until the fifth, when West Virginia would get back on the board. Christian Morris took over for Rayniel Espinal (2-1) and gave up back-to-back singles to Adrian Valerio and Fernandez with one out. A walk to Albert Baur loaded the bases before Owen grounded out to score Valerio.
In the sixth, this became a two-run game. The Power got a lead-off single from Ty Moore, who moved too third on an error. Arden Pabst followed with a base hit that scored Moore and it was 5-3.
From there the Charleston bullpen took over. Morris stayed on to pitch a scoreless sixth, then handed the ball to Trevor Lane. The left-hander allowed five base-runners in his two innings of work, but no one scored keeping it a two-run game. In the ninth, Hobie Harris relieved and retired the side for his first save of the season.
Hoy Jun Park led the Charleston offense, going 2-5 with 2-runs and an RBI. West Virginia got 2-hits each from Victor Fernandez, Hunter Owen, and Carlos Munoz.
Tomorrow, West Virginia will send Cam Vieaux (2-2, 2.67) to the hill. Freicer Perez (1-3, 3.57) will go for Charleston. First pitch is 7:05.
By Robert Pannier