Kannapolis sweeps RiverDogs in doubleheader

The Charleston RiverDogs struggled at the plate Friday night, losing both games of a doubleheader — 5-1 and 5-0 — to the Kannapolis Intimidators in front of 5,396 fans at Riley Park.

The series was originally set to begin Thursday night, but the game had to be postponed due to thunderstorms, causing both games Friday to be seven-inning contests.

Charleston took the field for the first game since the All-Star break with a depleted roster.

Since the RiverDogs last played, four of their most productive players — Slade Heathcott, J.R. Murphy, Kyle Roller and Rob Segedin, were called up to Tampa, the Yankees A Advanced League team.

Manager Aaron Ledesma said it will be hard to replace those four, but it is possible if the current players can play as a team.

“It’s going to take a team effort to replace those guys,” Ledesma said. “Losing them hurts run production. It’s going to take one through nine to step up and do the little things, not just one guy.”

Charleston went a combined 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position through both games.

In the first game, Charleston starter Steve Evarts came close to a rare complete game. Although the game was only seven innings, it would still have counted as a complete game. Evarts had a stellar start, pitching four hitless innings.

Miguel Gonzalez broke up Evarts’ no-hit bid in the fifth inning with a line drive to center field, and eventually scored the night’s first run on a Kyle Eveland sacrifice bunt.

In all, Evarts pitched 61/3 innings, while allowing just four hits. Evarts also struck out two.

“He threw the ball really well,” Ledesma said.

Ballpark fun

Tonight is the 12th Annual Kindness Beats Blindness Silent and Live Auction. All of the auction’s proceeds will go to the MUSC Storm Eye Institute.

Coming up

Tonight is military appreciation night, with all military personnel and their families get free admission. Game time is 7 p.m.