Poised for a sweep of the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees), the Columbus Catfish were denied by excellent pitching and timely hitting. Ivan Nova held the Catfish to just 2 hits in 6 innings, leading Charleston to a 3-2 win over the Catfish.Charleston 3B Mitchell Hilligoss singled home 2B Wilmer Pino, then scored himself on a single by CF Austin Jackson, to put Charleston up 2-0 in the 5th inning. The hit by Hilligoss extended his hitting streak to 30 games, longest current streak in pro baseball. Charleston added a run in the 7th to take a 3-0 lead.
The Catfish didn't go quietly, though. PH Maiko Loyola doubled to lead off the 8th, moved to second on a single by 2B Joey Callender, and scored when CF Desmond Jennings grounded into a double play.
In the 9th, C Nevin Ashley hit a monster blast into the tops of the trees behind the left field wall, closing the gap to 3-2. It was as close as the Catfish would get, though.
Wade Townsend allowed 2 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings work. The loss drops his record to 3-3. Ryan Morse allowed 1 run on 4 hits in 4 innings. The Catfish stranded 8 Charleston runners on base. 2 others were picked off or caught stealing. The Catfish defense also turned a pair of double plays, keeping the game in reach.
With the loss, the Catfish missed a chance to pull into first place in the South Division of the South Atlantic League. Division leader Augusta fell to West Virginia, leaving them a game ahead of the Catfish. Asheville beat Greensboro to move into 2nd place, a half game behind Augusta and a half game ahead of the Catfish.
The loss was just the 4th of the year to Charleston. The Catfish hold an 8-4 edge in play against the South Carolina team this season.
Tonight, the Catfish open a series with the last-place Savannah Sand Gnats. They split 4 games in Savannah earlier this month.
The first fireworks show of the year is also tonight. And it's Pirate night. I'm not sure if I'm going to dress as a pirate for tonight's game, although fans are asked to do just that. Something about a new pirate movie coming out. Anybody heard anything about that? ):
Should be fun watching the Catfish take on my old team. I'll be there, with or without pirate garb. Arrgh!
That Charleston team seems to be a bunch of good guys. We got to talk to several of them over the course of the series. Their coach gave us an autographed lineup card. He signed it "To the best fans in the SAL". Not bad for a bunch of obnoxious loudmouths eh? See ya tonight, hopefully you'll be in pirate garb and have a wooden leg. ha
ReplyDeleteThe Charleston team has always seemed to be a good crew of young ballplayers that you just can't help but like. I also had the opportunity to speak with some of the players from the team, and they seem like good folks.
ReplyDelete