Just five days ago, Charleston RiverDogs starter Yefrey Ramirez had his toughest outing of the season. The lanky right-hander gave up nine hits and six runs in 3.1 innings in a loss to the Columbia Fireflies. Thursday night it was a completely different story as the right-hander dominated the Augusta GreenJackets, leading the RiverDogs to the 3-1 win, their 30th victory of the season.

This was a tight pitching affair all evening long as Ramirez and Augusta starter Cory Taylor both pitched beautifully. Both starters looked great in the first. In the top of the second, the RiverDogs got on the scoreboard. Angel Aguilar singled to get it started and moved to third on a base hit by Austin Afenir. A third straight single, this time by Kendall Coleman, plated Aguilar and it was 1-0 Charleston. The inning had the potential to get out of hand with two on and no one out, but Taylor induced a double-play before getting the final batter of the inning to ground out to end the threat.

Ramirez was awesome through the first three innings of the contest, retiring the first eight batters before giving up a two-out single in the third. In the fourth the GreenJackets would finally get on the board. Ramirez retired the first two batters of the inning, but Matt Winn kept it alive with a single to right. Next up was Kevin Beltre, who doubled into center field to score Winn and tie the score.

For the next three innings these two warriors kept the game a 1-1 tie. It was a true battle as neither team had any answers for the opposing pitcher. Following the run in the fourth, Ramirez retired nine of the next 11 hitters he faced, yielding only a hit batsman in the fifth and a triple in the seventh.

Taylor was even more impressive. He would give up a two-out single in the third, and then retire the next 14 batters in a row. That included five strikeouts.

In the eighth, the streak would come to an end and so would the tie game. Taylor retired the first batter of the inning, but then gave up a single to Nathan Mikolas. Augusta Manager Mel Rojas argued the close play at first and was ejected. Kyle Holder then followed with a single and the rally was on.

Connor Kaden took over for Taylor but was not able to end the threat. Hoy Jun Park greeted him with a ground single to right field that brought home Mikolas and the RiverDogs were back on top.

In the ninth, the Charleston RiverDogs added an insurance run. Angel Aguilar got the inning started with a walk, and then stole second, his eighth of the season. on the steal the catcher’s throw was wild, allowing Aguilar to reach third. Austin Afenir followed with a single to score Aguilar and it was 3-1.

In the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Schwaab would come in looking for his ninth save of the season. He would throw 18 pitches to do so, but would strike out two to end the game.

Ramirez (2-1) earned the win with an outstanding outing. He allowed 4-hits and a run in 7-innings of work, striking out 8. That lowered his ERA to 2,97. Taylor (3-1) took his first loss of the season, a tough luck loss as he, too, was quite impressive. The Augusta starter allowed 6-hits and 2-runs in 7.1 innings. He also struck out 8.

Aguilar scored two runs for the Charleston RiverDogs. Afenir had two hits and an RBI.

These two teams will continue their series tomorrow. Daris Vargas (4-0, 2.23) goes for the Charleston RiverDogs (30-16) looking to remain unbeaten. Michael Connolly (1-1, 3.31) takes to the hill for the Augusta GreenJackets (21-26). Game time is 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier