De la Rosa blanks Legends

The nine strikeouts in six innings were impressive, as well as allowing only two hits. However, Wilkins de la Rosa was more impressed 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," de la Rosa said.

The past 18 months has been a time of transition for de la Rosa who began his professional career as an outfielder before the New York Yankees decided to see if he could pitch last season.

"That was hard. When you're a position player, you're taught to throw everything to the chest. Now it's different. You have to throw everything down and have to learn to throw a breaking ball," de la Rosa said.

Even now, the transformation has continued. He began the year in the

RiverDogs' bullpen, but made his first start on June 21 and has gradually built up his pitch count. 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 his record 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 a hit 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.

Jonathan Ortiz closed out the game in the ninth for his 22nd save to finish off the RiverDogs' 10th shutout of the season.

Heredia honored

Charleston RiverDog Jairo Heredia was named the South Atlantic League pitcher of the week after earning two wins last week. He only allowed two unearned runs on five hits and four walks in 13 1/3 innings of work while striking out 11. Heredia will start again on Thursday against Lexington.

Coming up

The same two teams play again today beginning at 7:05 p.m. with scheduled starters Noel Castillo (7-4, 3.45 ERA) for Charleston and Anthony Bello (2-5, 4.02) for Lexington. It's a Two-for-Tuesday special where fans can get two for the price of one tickets with their Bi-Lo cards.

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