RiverDogs Edge Sand Gnats, 4-3

CHARLESTON, SC Corban Joseph smashed his first home run of the season as the Charleston RiverDogs edged the Savannah Sand Gnats, 4-3, in South Atlantic League action Saturday night in front of 2,236 fans at Savannahs Historic Grayson Stadium.

With the victory, the RiverDogs capture their first victory of the second half, 1-2, and 40-33 overall while the Sand Gnats slip to 2-1 in the second half and 37-36 overall.

Charleston jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the third when Jose Pirela lined a double to right and circled the bases to score on Ray Krumls double to left. After advancing to third on a fly out, Kruml trotted home on Melky Mesas single to left for the innings second run.

The Sand Gnats cut into the RiverDogs 2-1 advantage when Josh Satin drew a walk, advanced to second on Raul Reyes single up the middle and Stefan Welch laced a single to right that brought home Satin.

The RiverDogs extended their advantage to 4-1 in the fifth when Kruml drew a walk and Joseph hammered a two-run blast over the right field fence for his first home run of the season.

Savannah cut Charlestons lead in half in the home half of the fifth frame when Rafael Fernandez lined a double to left and Wilmer Flores smacked a single to left that plated Fernandez and made the score 4-2.

The Sand Gnats catcher Kai Gronauer made the score 4-3 in the ninth when he smashed a leadoff solo shot for his fourth home run of the year over the left field wall.

Charleston reliever Chuck Nolte (1-0) earned the victory after he allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three in 2.1 innings of relief. Jonathan Ortiz (SV, 1) closed out the final 1.1 frames as he allowed one earned run on two hits and one strikeout to secure his first save as a RiverDog this season.

Sand Gnats starter Kyle Allen (5-3) suffered the defeat after he pitched 5.0 stanzas and was charged with four earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.

RiverDogs starter Hector Noesi received a no-decision after he threw two shutout innings and only allowed two hits and one strikeout.

Charleston smashed nine hits led by the trio of Pirela, Mesa and Chase Weems, who each collected a pair of base knocks while Jefry Marte, Reyes and Welch each amassed two hits and paced the Savannahs nine hit night.

The RiverDogs will give the ball to right-hander David Phelps (7-2, 3.04) while the Sand Gnats have yet to name a starter for Sundays game, with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. at Historic Grayson Stadium.