Riverdogs blank Legends

The nine strikeouts in six innings were impressive, as well as allowing only two hits. However, Wilkins de la Rosa was more pleased with the zero he posted.

The Charleston RiverDogs' newest starting pitcher didn't allow a walk in a 2-0 victory over the Lexington Legends on Monday in front of 3,481 fans at Riley Park.

"That was better for me because since the start of the season, I've been trying to be more consistent with staying ahead of the count," he said.

Against the Legends (4-14 second half, 25-62 overall) he was sharp with his fastball early in the game and struck out hitters with a deceptive off-speed pitch late to improve to 4-3 and earn his first victory as a starter. The Legends didn't get their first hit of the game until the fifth inning.

"Tonight, he had some really good stuff," Charleston manager Torre Tyson said. "We needed it. We needed a shutout the way we've been playing lately. (The Legends) had some long at-bats - nine- or 10-pitch at-bats - but he never gave in until he got the punchout."

Charleston (7-10, 52-35) has been in a team-wide hitting slump since the second half of the season began and it continued on Monday. The RiverDogs couldn't get more than one hit in an inning and hit into four double plays.

Jesus Montero led off the second with a home run over the scoreboard in left field on the first pitch he saw. David Williams was 2-for-2 and scored another run in the third inning on Justin Snyder's sacrifice fly.