Charleston Thumps Savannah, 7-3

CHARLESTON, SC Ray Kruml tallied three hits including a two-run triple as the Charleston RiverDogs thumped the Savannah Sand Gnats, 7-3, in South Atlantic League action Saturday night in front of 3,837 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Despite Charlestons victory, Greenville clinched the Southern Division title with its victory in Lexington. The RiverDogs improved to 39-30 while the Sand Gnats slip below .500 with a 34-35 record.

The RiverDogs were also aided by Mitch Abeitas three hits and one RBI.

Savannah first lit the scoreboard in the second inning when first baseman Stefan Welch slammed a two-out, 2-0 fastball over the right field fence for a two-run homer. Also scoring on the play was Kai Gronauer, who singled prior to Welchs bomb.

The RiverDogs sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs to take a 5-2 lead in the home half of the fourth. Led by a two-run triple to right by Kruml, Abeita and David Adams each collected RBI singles in the games decisive inning.

The Sand Gnats narrowed the gap to 5-3 in the sixth when Rafael Fernandez smacked a triple to the center wall and scampered home on a groundout.

Charleston added to its 7-3 advantage in the sixth when Kruml smacked a leadoff single and advanced to second on Adams walk. On two wild pitches, Kruml scored and Adams dashed to third. Melky Mesa lifted a sacrifice fly that turned into a three-base error when right fielder Raul Reyes dropped the fly and allowed Adams to score the second run of the inning.

Noesi earned his third victory as he scattered three earned runs on three hits and seven strikeouts in 7.0 complete stanzas, and reliever Casey Erickson threw the final two innings and allowed two uneventful hits.

Savannah starter Elvin Ramirez (3-6) suffered the loss after he pitched 3.2 innings and was charged with five earned runs on eight hits, four walks and one strikeout.

Charleston pounded 11 base knocks led by Kruml and Abeitas three and two each by Adams and Corban Joseph while a quintet of Sand Gnats accounted for Savannahs five hits.

Game 4 of this four-game block and the final game of the seasons first half is set for Sunday at 5:05 p.m. as Charleston plans to start right-hander David Phelps (7-1, 2.92 ERA) while Savannah counters with righty Jeurys Familia (4-4, 3.25 ERA).