RiverDogs close out season with victory

Shane Brown went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs to back up five strong innings from Brett Gerritse as the Charleston RiverDogs blanked the Asheville Tourists, 5-0, in South Atlantic League baeball action Monday night in front of a crowd of 4,018 fans at Riley Park in their season finale.

Charleston concluded the second half of the season at 29-41 and finished 55-85 overall, while Asheville dropped to 38-32 and 69-70.

Gerritse (1-0) and Asheville hurler Josh Slaats (7-3) treated the fans to a pitcher's duel in the season finale. The two pitchers matched each other until the RiverDogs took advantage of an error to open the door during a three-run fifth inning.

Jose Mojica reached on a throwing error and scored when Jose Rosario beat out a potential double-play ball. Jose Toussen followed with a walk to extend the rally, and Shane Brown hit a soft liner into left for a two-run single, to give the RiverDogs a 3-0 lead.

Gerritse was excellent in his first start of the year after making five relief appearances. The 20-year old scattered six hits over five shutout innings while striking out five.

The RiverDogs pushed across two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Mike Ferraro and Mojica delivered consecutive singles and they scored on Brown's two-run single down the left field line.

Slaats had enjoyed an outstanding second half of the season, but struggled on this night. Over six innings he yielded five runs on eight hits and three walks while managing to strike out eight batters.

Ballpark Fun

Before the game, the RiverDogs presented the 6th annual T. Ashton Phillips Award to Al and Barbara Bradham of CarpetCare Services and Disaster Care in recognition of their contributions to the club and community at-large.

Postgame fireworks closed the book on the 2011 season.