Phillip Diehl Lights Out from Bullpen to Lead RiverDogs to 7-5 Victory
The Charleston RiverDogs entered Friday night’s game in the midst of a four-game losing streak and looked like that streak could reach five when they feel behind 3-1 in the third inning. However, thanks to four outstanding innings of shutout relief by Phillip Diehl and 2-RBI from Carlos Vidal, the RiverDogs battled back to down the Delmarva Shorebirds, 5-3.
Neither team would get on the board in the first, but Charleston would grab the lead in the second. Blake Rutherford opened the inning with a double, but was gunned down at third on a fielder’s choice that put Diego Castillo at first. A passed ball moved him into scoring position before he stole third base. Castillo then scored on a base hit by Isiah Gilliam to make it 1-0.
Delmarva responded right away, scoring three in the top of the third. Daniel Fajardo walked against Nick Nelson to start the inning and Irving Ortega and Ryan McKenna followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases with no one out. Two batters later Nelson uncorked a wild pitch that scored Fajardo to tie the game. With two down, Collin Woody delivered a clutch single to left that scored both runners and it was 3-1 Delmarva.
Nelson was done after three. He gave up 3-runs in 3-innings of work, but also struck out 6. In came Diehl, who was absolutely brilliant. The left-hander struck out two in the fourth and only allowed a single and a walk in his first three innings of work. In the seventh, the Shorebirds mounted a little rally against him when a single, a walk, and a fielding error put two runners in scoring position with no one out. However, Diehl looked incredibly cool, as he got a fielder’s choice that gunned the runner from third at the plate, then struck out Woody for the second out of the inning, before getting a soft liner to end the threat.
Meanwhile, his offense was putting up some runs and gave the RiverDogs the lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Castillo and Brandon Wagner started out with back-to-back singles before Gilliam walked to load the bases. A fielder’s choice by Vidal scored Castillo to make it 3-2.
In the sixth, Charleston tied the score. With Kory Groves on the hill, Castillo singled to start the inning and looked like he would score when Gilliam grounded a double to the wall in left. However, a great throw from Cole Billingsley to Fajardo gunned Castillo at the plate to keep Delmarva on top. It would not stay that way, as Vidal singled to score Gilliam and tie the game.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Charleston RiverDogs retook the lead. Estevan Florial singled to get the inning started and moved to third on a base hit by Hoy Jun Park. With runners at the corners and one down, Donny Sands beat out a ground ball to short, reaching first safely and driving in Florial to make it 4-3. A sacrifice fly brought Park home to make it 5-3 and that would be the final.
Diehl (4-0) was done after pitching four outstanding innings. The left-hander allowed 2-hits and 2-walks, while striking out a season high 7. That gave the RiverDogs 13 strikeouts through the first seven innings and they were not done.
In the eighth Anyelo Gomez came on and he was lights out. The closer gave up a hit and a walk in the inning, but ended the threat by striking out the side. He would retire the side in order in the ninth for his sixth save of the season, fanning four total to give Charleston 17 for the contest, the second most they have had this season, trailing only an 18-strikeout performance on April 12.
Carlos Vidal finished 3-4 for Charleston with 2-runs driven in. Diego Castillo finished 2-4 with 2-runs scored and Isiah Gilliam was 2-2 with a run, an RBI, a double and 2-walks. Ryan McKenna went 3-4 for the Shorebirds, with a run scored.
These two teams will have an early evening affair on Saturday. Delmarva will send Matthias Dietz (0-2, 7.40) to the hill to face Nick Green (2-3, 4.18). First pitch is 6:05.
By Robert Pannier