Drive outduelsR'Dogs

Drive 1, RiverDogs 0

Runs continue to come at a premium between the Charleston RiverDogs and Greenville Drive.

The Greenville pitching staff combined to throw a one-hit shutout, and Luis Exposito drove in Yamaico Navarro in the seventh inning for the game's only run in a 1-0 victory over the Charleston RiverDogs on Wednesday night in front of a Riley Park crowd of 2,725.

Greenville starter Terumasa Matsuo (1-0) gave up one hit, walked two and struck out five to outduel Charleston starter Jason Stephens, who lasted six innings and allowed three hits and no walks while striking out five.

"(Matsuo) pitched backwards. He pitched off his breaking stuff, so that 87 mph looked like 94," RiverDogs manager Torre Tyson said.

Navarro led off the seventh inning with a double to left field against Charleston reliever Jesse Hoover (2-2). He advanced to third on a fly ball and Exposito followed with a single to left.

The RiverDogs (26-13) had two decent opportunities to score but came up empty. With one out in the fourth, Carmen Angelini walked and Justin Snyder singled to put runners at the corners, but Jesus Montero grounded into a double play to end the threat. In the sixth, Danny Cox led off with a walk and Walter Ibarra squared to bunt and tried to slap a single past a drawn-in infield. However, his hit up the middle found second baseman Kristopher Negron, who started a double play with a remarkable catch and flip toss to the shortstop.

"They made all the plays," Tyson said. "Their middle guys flipped it a couple of times."

It was the second straight prime pitching performance squandered by a lack of run support by the RiverDogs, who also seem to be playing some of their best defense of the season.

"It's frustrating, but it's good to see the pitchers try to pick us up," Tyson said. "We've been working our tails off defensively because that's where we've been lacking. It all starts with the middle guys. Angelini and Snyder are starting to turn more double plays. That's the reason we got Stephens through six innings on a 70-pitch count."

Stephens was making his second start of the season and has now gone 21 innings without giving up a run. The last earned run he allowed was on April 7, and he's dropped his earned run average to 1.08.

Exposito was 2-for-3 for the Drive (22-18).

The RiverDogs remain a half-game out of first place in the South Atlantic League's Southern Division after leader Asheville lost at Savannah on Wednesday.

Ballpark fun

Wednesday was a salute/mockery to the New York Yankees' no-facial hair policy. Fans with at least an inch of growth received a discount on admission. On the video board, beards and moustaches were added to the pictures of the RiverDogs' faces. The most striking changes were the Groucho Marx glasses added to Taylor Holiday and the mutton chops added to Justin Snyder.

Coming up

The RiverDogs and Drive wrap up their four-game series today. The game will begin at 7:35 p.m. or 30 minutes after the end of The Citadel's game against Presbyterian College, whichever comes later. The scheduled starters are Charleston right-hander Zach McAllister (4-2, 2.57 ERA) and Greenville righty Chris Province (3-0, 2.41).

The RiverDogs will wear New York Yankees batting practice jerseys and fans will have an opportunity during the game to win the game-worn gear during a silent auction. The players will present the jerseys to the winning fans right after the game.

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