RiverDogs put Drive in neutral

David Phelps and Chuck Nolte combined on a six-hitter as the Charleston RiverDogs recorded their second consecutive shutout of Greenville with a 4-0 blanking of the Drive before a standing-room crowd of 7,378 at Riley Park on Friday night.

Phelps (9-2), who is tied for the South Atlantic League lead in wins and has not lost a game since May 3, was never in trouble as he scattered four singles over six strong innings. The right-hander walked just one and struck out a season-high nine batters.

The RiverDogs (5-4 second half, 44-35 overall) took a 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second. Corban Joseph's leadoff grounder was mishandled by Greenville first baseman Ty Weeden, setting up Garrison Lassiter's RBI single and a two-out sacrifice fly by Chase Weems.

Lassiter added a double and two more singles to finish 4-for-4.

Weems hit his first homer of the year, a high solo shot to right leading off the fifth, and Tommy Baldridge made it 4-0 with a run-scoring groundout in the eighth that drove in Taylor Grote.

Nolte earned his first save, shutting down Greenville (3-5, 42-34) on two hits over the final three innings. He was helped by a double play in the seventh started by RiverDogs right fielder Melky Mesa, who snared a line drive and threw to first base before Oscar Tejeda could scamper back to the bag.

The Drive had runners at second and third in the eighth with one out, but Nolte recorded a strikeout and a groundout to squelch the threat before tossing a perfect ninth inning to finish the shutout.

Greenville starter Caleb Clay (3-4) allowed three runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings and was charged with the loss.

Weeden and Pete Hissey each collected two of the Drive's six hits.

Ballpark fun

Between the third and fourth innings, The Post and Courier sponsored a pie-eating contest in which three youths knelt atop the third base dugout and leaned face first into apple pies. The winner in a close finish was Rachael Hale. After the game, fans were treated to the RiverDogs' biggest fireworks show of the season on the eve of Independence Day.

Coming up

The RiverDogs embark on an eight-game road trip starting today at 7:05 p.m. in Asheville against the Tourists. Charleston will send left-hander Manny Banuelos (6-3, 2.26 ERA) to the mound while Asheville counters with right-hander Robinson Fabian (2-5, 5.45). Banuelos tossed five shutout innings against the Tourists on May 9, allowing one hit and striking out eight in a no-decision.

The RiverDogs' next home game is July 13 against Hickory.