RiverDogs drop DH to Tourists

Solid pitching in the first game and power from an unlikely source in the second allowed the Asheville Tourists to sweep the Charleston RiverDogs on a pair of seven-inning 4-2 victories in front of 5,124 fans at Riley Park on Friday.

Starting pitcher Joey Williamson (4-0) held the RiverDogs in check for five innings, allowing only a run on four hits and a walk while striking out four.

In the second game, No. 9 hitter Brian Lapin, who entered the game with a .179 batting average, hit a three-run homer against Adam Olbrychowski (5-6) in the third inning to do most of the damage.

"The disheartening thing there is (outfielder Michael) Mitchell had just robbed (Bradley) Suttle of a bases-clearing shot. They take three runs away and then score three," Charleston manager Torre Tyson said. "You never want to lose two. On the upside, I saw some things I liked in the second game."

In the first game, Asheville (24-17 second half, 69-41 overall) took a 4-0 lead against Charleston starter Jairo Heredia (5-5).

Mitchell led off the second inning with a double and Lapin reached base on an error. Helder Velazquez drove in one run on a sacrifice fly, and Lars Davis drew a bases loaded walk for the other run. Heredia gave up eight hits and three walks and hit consecutive batters to set up another bases-loaded walk in the third inning.

Beau Seabury drove in Velazquez in the fifth for a 4-0 lead.

The RiverDogs (18-21, 63-45) chipped away at the lead. Abraham Almonte reached base in the fifth and seventh innings and scored on a double each time. Justin Snyder, who was 3-for-4, drove in one run. Austin Romine was 2-for-3.

Asheville's Randall Taylor pitched the ninth inning to earn his 27th save of the year.

Charleston combined for 15 hits in the two games, but the RiverDogs had trouble stringing hits together to come up with a big inning.

"The majority of our lineup is scuffling," Tyson said.

RiverDog Jesus Montero hit his 12th homer of the season in the second game to cut Asheville's lead to 3-2. He's tied with Brandon Laird for the team lead.

Charleston had the tying runs on base in the bottom of the seventh in the second game, but Craig Baker struck out Montero to end the game and earn his sixth save.

Ballpark fun

The crowd got revved up when public address announcer Ken Carrington challenged them to see how long they could bang their thunder sticks together during the third inning of the second game. It wasn't nearly as much fun when Asheville's Brian Lapin hit a three-run homer during the audio onslaught.

Coming up

The RiverDogs go on the road for a four-game trip at Greenville beginning today. They will return to Riley Park on Wednesday to face the Rome Braves. Charleston's scheduled starter has not been announced. Greenville will use right-hander Terumasa Matsuo (4-3, 4.96 ERA.)

Game 1

E—Williamson, Suttle, Cuello. DP—Asheville 1, Charleston 1. LOB—Asheville 12, Charleston 6. 2B—Davis, Bowman, Mitchell 2, Velazquez, Snyder, Krum. SF—Velazquez. SB—Clark, Seabury.

WP—Medina. HBP—by Heredia (Mitchell, Lapin). Time—2:21.

Game 2

E—Davis, Olbrychowski. DP—Asheville 2, Charleston 1. LOB—Asheville 5, Charleston 8. 2B—Laird. HR—Lapin, Montero. CS—Davis, Cuello.

HBP—by Olbrychowski (Velazquez).

Time—2:26. Att—5,124.