Dogs suffer 5th straight loss

HICKORY, N.C. -- Edwin Garcia's eighth inning RBI double capped a five-run Hickory rally, as the Crawdads bested the RiverDogs, 7-6, in front of 2,020 in South Atlantic League action Thursday night.

Hickory has now won three straight games in improving to 8-7, while Charleston (5-10) has dropped five in a row for the first time since July 2009.

The Crawdads trailed 5-0 and 6-1 in the contest, and were down 6-2 entering the eighth against RiverDogs reliever Francisco Rondon. Leury Garcia led off with a home run to left field, and after a walk to Miguel Velazquez, Jared Prince hit an RBI double. Matt West then delivered a two-run homer to left-center to tie the game at 6.

Rondon was lifted for Gabriel Tatis (0-1), who gave up a one-out walk to Ed Koncel before scoring on Garcia's two-out double.

Charleston exploded for a five-run first inning, marking the most runs scored by the RiverDogs in an inning this year, and knock Crawdads starter Neil Ramirez out of the game after just 2/3 inning.

Charleston sent 11 men to the plate in the inning. However, the RiverDogs collected just one more base hit in the game over the final eight innings.

DeAngelo Mack had a home run for the RiverDogs.

Charleston's eight-game road trip concludes tonight against Hickory in a 7:05 scheduled start time. Today, the RiverDogs start left-hander Shaeffer Hall (0-0, 0.46 ERA); Hickory counters with right-hander Joe Wieland (0-1, 0.57 ERA).

Run Forrest Run 5K

The RiverDogs will hold the 7th Annual Run Forrest Run 5K Race on May 1. The race begins at 5 p.m. at Riley Park prior to the RiverDogs' home game against the Hickory Crawdads.

Early registration ends today and is $25, which includes a race T-shirt, one ticket to that evening's RiverDogs game, in-game awards ceremony and a post-race party with dinner provided by Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Bubba Gump Shrimp Company's very own Forrest Gump will be on hand to start the rain-or-shine race and mingle with runners throughout the evening. Late and on-site registration is $30. T-shirts are available while supplies last. Call (843) 723-7241 for more information.

Additional RiverDogs game tickets are $7 each. Saturday's 7:05 pm game against Hickory features a Webkinz giveaway for the first 1,000 fans.

Registration forms are available at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, The Extra Mile Running Shop, online at active.com and riverdogs.com.

Proceeds from the event benefit the MUSC Storm Eye Institute.