The Charleston RiverDogs held off the Fayetteville Woodpeckers for a hard-fought 4-3 win on Friday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The victory was paired with another Columbia loss in Augusta to push the RiverDogs lead in the south division standings to 5.5 games with nine to play. The Woodpeckers put the tying run in scoring position in each of the final three innings, coming up empty each time in front of an energetic crowd of 4,213.
The RiverDogs (35-21, 62-59) knocked on the door in the first two innings but finally burst through to take the lead in the third. Aidan Smith began the inning by drawing a walk against Luis Rodriguez and quickly stealing second base. Connor Hujsak traded places with Smith and gave the RiverDogs the lead with an RBI double that bounced over the wall in left field. Two batters later, Jhon Diaz clubbed his 10th home run of the season well over the right field wall to make it 3-0.
Hujsak was the spark that led to the home team’s fourth run as well. The right fielder began the fifth inning with a triple into the left field corner. He would score later in the frame as Brady Marget lifted a sacrifice fly to right.
Trevor Harrison was dominant on the mound in his eighth start with the RiverDogs, striking out seven over 5.0 scoreless innings. The 19-year-old did not allow a hit on his way to the win. However, when Samuel Mejia took over out of the bullpen, Fayetteville (23-33, 52-70) came to life quickly. Will Bush greeted him with a single and Rabel Colon followed quickly with a towering two-run home run to cut the deficit in half. A double by Joseph Sullivan kept the line moving and Trevor Austin singled through the right side of the infield to pull the Woodpeckers within one.
The bullpen worked out of several jams to close the door. Jonalbert Rumbol induced a 4-6-3 double play with the bases loaded in the seventh inning to escape trouble. Alexander Alberto helped Rumbol escape the eighth inning with a runner at second base and then stranded a runner of his own in the ninth on the way to earning his fifth save in as many opportunities.
The RiverDogs were outhit by Fayetteville 7-6 in the contest. Hujsak paced the attack with a 2-4 day that featured a pair of extra-base hits. Austin and Cesar Hernandez each had a pair of hits for Fayetteville.
Ballpark Fun
The RiverDogs wore their red, white and blue Friday night uniforms one more time this season on the final Boeing Red Shirt Friday of 2024. The jerseys were auctioned to fans at the game, who left the ballpark with the jersey right off the player’s backs. The game was followed by the final fireworks show of the season, presented once again by REV Federal Credit Union.
The RiverDogs will look for a fifth straight win on Saturday night with RHP Santiago Suarez (6-6, 4.30) on the hill. It’s Third-Party Charlie Night with the team’s lovable mascot beginning his Presidential campaign at the game. The first 1,000 fans to sign Charlie T. RiverDog’s petition will receive a free t-shirt touting the big guy for President. Fayetteville will hand the ball to RHP Pedro Marquez (1-1, 13.50).
The RiverDogs continue their hunt for a fourth-consecutive Carolina League championship in 2024. The full schedule of games is available here.
Charleston 4, Fayetteville 3
August 30, 2024
Click here for the box score
Fayetteville (R-H-E): 3-7-0
Charleston (R-H-E): 4-6-0
Win: Harrison (2-0)
Loss: L. Rodriguez (1-2)
Save: Alberto (5)
HR: Fayetteville: Rabel Colon (1, 6th inning, 1 on base)
HR: Charleston: Jhon Diaz (10, 3rd inning, 1 on base)
