RiverDogs 'not clicking right now'

GreenJackets 6, RiverDogs 3

The Charleston RiverDogs started the season blasting opponents with a broadside of cannon shots up and down its explosive offense. Recently, they've been reduced to pistol shots and prayers.

Charleston lost to the Augusta GreenJackets for the second straight game, 6-3, on Thursday in front of 5,045 fans at Riley Park.

The RiverDogs managed eight hits but none were for extra bases and only in the first inning were they able to get back-to-back singles.

"Compare our lineup now with what we had on opening day," said manager Torre Tyson, who is without the services of Bradley Suttle, Wady Rufino and Austin Romine. The three of them are hitting a combined .312 with five homers, 26 RBI and 32 runs.

"We're not clicking right now," Tyson said. "We haven't had the same lineup for I don't know how many days. It's tough to get any chemistry going.

"Something that's been great about this team compared to last year is we needed three hits to score last year because we didn't have the power. This year, we have it, but we seem to be in a funk where now we need three hits to score. We're just not getting the extra-base hits."

Shortstop Carmen Angelini returned to the RiverDogs' lineup after missing three games with a head injury from Sunday's game. He batted second in the order for the first time this season and was 2-for-5 with a run.

Augusta (13-15) jumped on spot starter Lance Pendleton and built a comfortable lead it never relinquished, roughing him up for five runs in three innings on eight hits and a walk. Andrew Davis was 3-for-5 with two runs driven in. Thomas Neal was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and Nick Noonan was 2-for-5 with two runs and a stolen base.

Pendleton made his second start of the season in place of Jairo Heredia, who has been out since April 23 with an upper-body injury. Pendleton had been one of the more effective middle relievers from the bullpen this season, but he hasn't been able to duplicate that success to the beginning of games.

Charleston (20-7) dropped its second straight game, but the RiverDogs hold on to first place in the South Atlantic League's Southern Division by a half-game over Asheville, which lost 4-0 at Columbus on Thursday.

T.J. Brewer (2-2) earned the victory with six innings of work in which he gave up three runs β€” only two earned β€” on five hits and a walk.

Coming up

The two teams end their series and the RiverDogs' eight-game homestand tonight at 7:05. The scheduled starters are Charleston right-hander Noel Castillo (3-1, 2.51 ERA) and Augusta left-hander Craig Clark (1-0, 2.84).

The Principal Financial Family Fun Fest will begin outside Riley Park at 4 p.m. with plenty of activities for the children.

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