Abreu Fans 11 as RiverDogs Shutout Augusta

Dominican right-hander racks up career-high K numbers in dominating performance from Charleston pitching

 

CHARLESTON, SC – Albert Abreu struck out a career-high 11 batters through 5.2 innings and Charleston pitching combined to punch out 18 Augusta hitters as the RiverDogs blanked the GreenJackets, 4-0, in front of 4,159 fans to wrap up Opening Week at Riley Park on Wednesday night.

 

Augusta (1-6) was blown away from the start by the velocity of Abreu's fast ball as it touched triple digits at one point during the night. One of Augusta’s three hits occurred in the first inning when right fielder Sandro Fabian got a piece and lined one up the middle for a single. After beginning the game whiffing Ashord Fulmer, Abreu (1-0, 0.93) took care of business following the single, fanning the next two to end the frame.

 

In back-to back-innings the RiverDogs (5-2) would put runners in scoring position but fail to bring a run across until they cashed in on a trio of errors by Augusta in the fourth. Estevan Florial lead off the inning with a single to right field. The first blunder was committed by Brandon Van Horn (SS) as Oswaldo Cabrera hit a sharp ground ball for a hit and the throw from Van Horn went wild, scoring Florial and advancing Cabrera to second. Carlos Vidal singled to left center with one out and brought in Cabrera. Two more errors would occur as Castillo reached on a misplay by Kelvin Beltre on a routine ground ball to second. Vidal advanced to third and Hoy Jun Park took two bases on a hit and another throwing error by Van Horn. Vidal came in to score for the RiverDogs, making it 3-0 Charleston. 

 

Park hit his second home run of the season to add to Charleston’s lead in the seventh inning with a no-doubter to right field that made it 4-0 RiverDogs. Park now has the first two Charleston home runs of the season.

 

Abreu kept on piling up the Ks until being lifted in the sixth after throwing 83 pitches. On three separate occasions, he struck out three in a row, including four straight to end his night when he stepped off the mound to a standing ovation after 5.2 innings.

 

Adonis Rosa came in for relief and was just as dominant. The fellow Dominican righty finished off the game striking out seven and allowing one hit as the RiverDogs pitching staff fanned 18 GreenJackets hitters without a walk to cap off the first shutout win of the season.

Dominica Mazza (0-2, 10.80) took the loss for Augusta. The left-hander allowed three unearned runs while yielding eight hits in four innings with a pair of strike outs.

 

Ballpark Fun

The RiverDogs honored the life of Anthony Wright AKA “Tony the Peanut Man” on a night of smile and good cheer at the ballpark. The first 1,000 fans through the gate received a Tony commemorative pin courtesy of “Wardrobe Wednesdays” presented by WEZL and ABC News 4, and Charleston locals shared their fondest memories of the longtime vendor at The Joe who passed away during the offseason.

 

Upcoming

The RiverDogs cast off for their first road trip of the season, first taking on the defending South Atlantic League champions, the Rome Braves, in a four-game tilt from April 13-16 at State Mutual Stadium. Game one will pit Charleston RHP Freicer Perez (0-0, 8.10) against RHP Jeremy Walker (0-0, 6.75). The first pitch is set for 7pm from Rome, Ga and can be followed on WTMA 1250 AM and streaming online on riverdogs.com and the RiverDogs TuneIn app station.