R'Dogs halt skid at 3 games
The Charleston RiverDogs only managed four hits Monday night against Bowling Green, but they certainly made them count.
Three of the RiverDogs' four hits drove in runs, including Melky Mesa's two-run homer, and starting pitcher David Phelps gave Charleston six strong innings in a 4-1 South Atlantic League victory over the Hot Rods in front of a Riley Park crowd of 2,253.
The RiverDogs ended a three-game losing streak.
"When David's on, he has been good for us," said RiverDogs manager Torre Tyson. "If he can stay away from self- destruction, he's going to be a really good pitcher. I could tell he was going to have a good game after the third inning."
Phelps (4-1) worked six innings against Bowling Green (23-21), allowing one run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
"The results were good, but I wasn't too happy with the three walks," Phelps said. "But the offense gave me some runs tonight and I didn't make too many mistakes."
One of Phelps' few mistakes was serving up a home run ball to Mike Sheridan in the sixth inning, but fortunately for Phelps and the RiverDogs, no one was on base at the time.
Charleston (24-20) broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the third on an RBI double by Dan Brewer and Mesa's two-run homer to right. It was Mesa's league-leading 11th homer of the season.
Taylor Grote's solo homer to right in the fourth put the RiverDogs ahead 4-0.
Cory Arbiso came on in relief for Phelps in the seventh, and in turn gave way to ace closer Pat Venditte in the ninth. Venditte struck out the side for his league-leading 13th save.
Ballpark fun
Venditte, the RiverDogs' ambidextrous relief pitcher, signed autographs after the game, and even let one lucky young fan hold his six-fingered glove. For tonight's game, Adam Richman from the Travel Channel Show, "Man vs. Food" will be in town to film a segment on ballpark food that includes the "Homewrecker" the RiverDogs' half-pound, all beef hotdog with 25 available condiments. In addition, it's "Hair Nets and Plastic Gloves Night" honoring the lunch ladies from the Charleston County School District.
Coming up
The RiverDogs and the Hot Rods play again at 7:05 tonight. Matthew Moore (2-2, 3.90 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Hot Rods, while Andrew Brackman (1-4, 3.55 ERA) is the probable starter for the RiverDogs.
E—Estrada, Scelfo. LOB—Bowling Green 6, Charleston 6. 2B—Beckham, Brewer. HR—Sheridan, Mesa, Grote. SB—Mesa, Grote. CS—Reynolds, Beckham.
WP—Jarman, Echeverria.
Time—2:21. Att—2,253.
