Tough call caps tough series

A controversial call with a duplicitous explanation led to the go-ahead runs, and the Charleston RiverDogs left Riley Park on a four-game losing streak after a 4-2 10th-inning loss to the Rome Braves in front of 4,517 fans on Saturday.

Tied at 2 in the 10th, Rome's Jason Heyward grounded a ball up the middle where shortstop Justin Snyder snagged the ball and made a rushed throw to first that caused Wady Rufino to jump high over the base. His foot and Heyward's hit the bag at close to the same time, but umpire Seth Buckminster called him safe to the objection of both Rufino and RiverDogs manager Torre Tyson.

"I felt my right foot hit first," Rufino said.

Tyson said after the game that Buckminster claimed Rufino did land first but was off the bag. Tyson convinced Buckminster to appeal to the home plate umpire, who also called him safe.

"He told me he was going to ask if his feet came down on the bag and if he said no, then that was it. That was fine by me," Tyson said. "So the next inning I ask him how he could have missed that, and he said Wady was on the bag, but he was asked if Heyward was there first."

Either way, Heyward was at the center of most of Rome's scoring. He was 2-for-4 with a fifth-inning home run and three runs. Cody Johnson hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th to put Rome ahead.

Charleston (22-25 second half, 67-50 overall) had a chance to win the game in the ninth when Abraham Almonte led off with a walk and stole second. Dave Williams, who tied the game at 2 in the seventh with his fourth homer of the year, laid down a good sacrifice bunt to move him to third. Rome reliever Craig Kimbrel (2-0), who was throwing in the mid-90s, struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

"We've got to win that game in the ninth," Tyson said. "All we need is (Austin) Krum or (Prilys) Cuello to put the bat on the ball."

A day after ripping his team for a lack of heart, Tyson said he saw a difference on Saturday. Jesus Montero and Abraham Almonte took extra bases on aggressive running. In Montero's case, he went from first to third on an infield single and scored on Williams' single in the fourth.

"That's the things I need to see from them on a nightly basis," Tyson said. "Today, I saw some fight in some guys. That's the only thing keeping me sane today."

Ballpark fun

The first 1,000 fans through the gates received superhero capes. Kids and adults alike were seen swooshing through Riley Park.

Coming up

The RiverDogs leave for an eight-game road trip with four games each against Northern Division opponents Delmarva and Lakewood. The team returns for its final home stand on Aug. 20 with six games in five days against Columbus and three games versus Savannah.

Reach Bill Henley at 937-5595 or bhenley@postandcourier.com.