Charleston's bats remain dormant

The RiverDogs have hit the wall.

Charleston's offensive woes in the second half continued Tuesday with a 3-1 loss to the Lexington Legends in front of an announced crowd of 3,029 at Riley Park.

"I just think we stink right now," RiverDogs manager Torre Tyson said after his team dropped to 7-11 in the second half just three weeks after finishing the first half 45-25.

A team that looked poised to challenge for a playoff spot is now struggling to play .500 ball. The team is batting .192 in July and has scored only 14 runs in its past seven games. The only explanation the players have is fatigue.

"For me at times, I'm a little tired," catcher Jesus Montero said. "I have to make the adjustment."

Montero is one of several young players on the team who are in the middle of their first full season of professional baseball. Making the turn in July is proving to be a formidable problem.

"The fatigue of our first full season might be getting to guys," Justin Snyder said. "There's a lot of first-year guys coming in. You hear a lot about

(the wall), but we're just now experiencing it. I think we're pressing a little bit. Everyone's trying to get the big hit and it's causing everyone to play outside themselves.

"Our pitching's been awesome, by the way."

Noel Castillo (7-5) pitched well enough to win on most nights but got saddled with the loss. He lasted 7 2/3 innings and gave up six hits, a walk and two earned runs while striking out five.Charleston just couldn't help itself at the plate. The RiverDogs got all of its hits in the first five innings, but then grounded into three inning-ending double plays. Taylor Holiday was 2-for-3, and Brandon Laird drove in Snyder on a double in the fourth that tied the game at 1-all.

Matthew Cusick and Eric Taylor were each 2-for-4 for the Legends (5-14 second half, 26-62 overall). Anthony Bello (3-5) pitched seven innings and allowed only six hits and a walk. Jordan Powell finished the game for his fourth save of the year. The two combined retire the final 13 RiverDogs.

Tyson's just looking for a spark to reignite his lineup that looked unbeatable earlier in the season.

"I think it's going to take one of our guys to step up and carry us," he said. "(Bradley) Suttle's done it left-handed lately and Laird's done it a few weeks before that. We need someone else to step up."

Coming up

The Legends and RiverDogs turn around quickly for a day game. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. for the RiverDogs' annual Big Splash Day, when Riley Park is transformed into a water park.

Fans — mostly kids — will be allowed to bring in squirt guns, and the fire department will have their water cannon at the ready.

The starting pitchers are scheduled to be Charleston right-hander Dellin Betances (4-3, 4.05 ERA) and Lexington righty Luis Pardo (0-5, 4.56).

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