Bats slow down as RiverDogs split doubleheader

RiverDogs 4-1, Braves 3-6

The scoring drought started at the end of the first game, but then it worsened into a full-blown hitting slump.

The Charleston RiverDogs split a doubleheader with the Rome Braves on Tuesday after completing a 4-3 win that started on Monday and then dropping a 6-1 seven-inning decision to the Braves in the second game.

Rome left-handed starter Chad Rodgers (2-9) baffled the RiverDogs with his breaking pitches and didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning when Charleston (1-3) scored its only run. Rodgers allowed only three hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts in six innings.

Rome's Samuel Sime was 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs, including a solo homer in the fifth. Jason Heyward was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

"We had a lot of opportunities tonight and it didn't happen," manager Torre Tyson said. "I remember having first and second with nobody out and not moving anyone over and those little things come back to haunt you."

Charleston entered the first game with a 2-0 lead courtesy of Brandon Laird's two-run homer in Monday's second inning. The RiverDogs immediately built on it to start the third inning on Tuesday as Justin Snyder and Jesus Montero each drove in runs for a 4-0 lead.

The Braves (3-3) chipped away at the lead and moved to within 4-3 before Chace Vacek closed out the game to earn his fifth save of the year.

The Braves pitchers settled in after the third inning of the first game and threw nine scoreless innings. While the RiverDogs were struggling, Rome showed they could scratch out runs. In the second game, the Braves scored in each of the first four innings to build a 5-0 lead.

Former College of Charleston pitcher Nick Chigges, who was drafted by the New York Yankees last year, made his South Atlantic League debut in the sixth inning of the second game. He gave up a solo homer to Sime in the sixth to increase Rome's lead to 6-1. He gave up two hits and a walk while getting a strikeout in two innings.

The RiverDogs are in the midst of a three-day stretch in which they finish five games. Columbus comes to town today and the two teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday in order to complete a game that started last week.

"It's already taken a toll with the humidity and heat and we have to find a way to get over it," Tyson said. "They way I looked at it going in was this was an opportunity to win five games in three days. I hope the guys are looking at it that way."

Ballpark fun

All night long, Charlie the RiverDog played out scenarios with multiple choices where he would ask himself, "What would Chuck Norris do?" Almost every answer was a roundhouse kick to solve the situation.

Coming up

The RiverDogs begin a three-day series today against the Columbus Catfish. In addition to the three regularly scheduled games, the teams on Thursday will finish a postponed game that started in Columbus last week. The scheduled starters are Charleston right-hander Jairo Heredia (2-1, 2.98 ERA) and an undetermined pitcher for Columbus.

Tonight's promotion is Go Back to Ohio Night in honor of the many Buckeye State transplants who have inhabited the Lowcountry. To show how much the RiverDogs care about their "from off" neighbors, one lucky fan will win a one-way bus ticket to Ohio.

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