The Charleston RiverDogs had a one run lead and appeared to be cruising toward a Saturday night victory in front of 5,579 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. A dropped fly ball allowed the Fredericksburg Nationals to tie the game in the eighth and the RiverDogs could not drive in the winning run from third with three chances in the bottom of the ninth, eventually succumbing 5-3 in ten innings. Four of the team’s last eight games have gone to extra frames.
Fredericksburg (22-10) struck first, putting a crooked number on the board in the third inning. Jeremy De La Rosa started the frame with a double and was joined on base by Elijah Green, who reached with an infield single. They executed a double steal with one out in the frame, allowing the scoring to start with a sacrifice fly by Jose Colmenares. Brenner Cox doubled the advantage moments later with an RBI single to center.
The RiverDogs (12-18) could not generate offense against Nationals starter Marc Davis but reached the board in the sixth off the bullpen. Cristopher Barete reached on an error by first baseman Roismar Quintana to commence the rally. Following a strikeout from Narciso Polanco, the RiverDogs collected four consecutive hits to take a 3-2 lead. Adrian Santana put down a bunt single, Tre’ Morgan followed with an RBI single, Angel Mateo tied the game with a double and Raudelis Martinez smashed a go-ahead single off Quintana’s glove.
The lead held into the eighth inning when Quintana lofted a routine fly ball to center field. Barete was camped under the ball and was about to secure the second out, when the ball bounced out of his glove and fell to his feet for a two-base error. Cox capitalized by lining a game-tying single to center field two batters later.
In the bottom of the ninth, the RiverDogs had a golden opportunity to win the game when Woo Shin reached third base with no outs. That winning run never budged as Bryan Broecker popped out to second, Polanco struck out and Santana flied to center.
De La Cruz immediately put the National ahead on the first pitch in the 10th, rolling an RBI double inside the third base bag. With two outs, a wild pitch from Hayden Snelsire brought in the final run. The RiverDogs were retired in order by Moises Diaz to close the contest.
Starting pitcher Drew Dowd was superb, allowing two runs in 6.0 innings. He scattered six hits and struck out six. Seth Chavez struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 seventh innings out of the pen. Snelsire was charged with three runs, only one of them earned, in 3.0 innings. He was saddled with the tough-luck loss.
Cox had three hits and two RBI for Fredericksburg, while De La Rosa was 2-5 with a pair of doubles. The RiverDogs received two hits from Santana, Morgan, Mateo and Shin.
Ballpark Fun
The RiverDogs hosted Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night on Saturday with another fantastic weekend crowd. The team wore special jerseys featuring their custom Marvel-created logo that are available to fans through an online auction. Ushers and front office staff were also seen wearing capes and goggles around the ballpark.
The series finale will take place on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. RHP Chandler Murphy (0-0, 1.15) will work first on the mound for the Dogs. Fredericksburg will throw RHP Travis Sthele (0-2, 6.41). The RiverDogs will celebrate Mother’s Day with a special area on Doby’s Deck dedicated to moms. Parking is free and kids will be welcomed to the field to run the bases after the game on MUSC Health Family Sunday.
The RiverDogs continue their hunt for a fourth-consecutive Carolina League championship in 2024. The full schedule of games is available here.
Fredericksburg 5, Charleston 3 (10 innings)
May 11, 2024
Click here for the box score
Fredericksburg (R-H-E): 5-8-2
Charleston (R-H-E): 3-9-1
Win: Schultz (2-1)
Loss: Snelsire (1-2)
Save: Diaz (1)
HR: Fredericksburg: None
HR: Charleston: None
