5 SERIES PREVIEW MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM A MEMORABLE SEASON 8
BY THE NUMBER
The Charleston RiverDogs return to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park for the final time in the 2022 season to face the Lynchburg Hillcats for the right to defend their crown from a year ago.
Lynchburg, an affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, were the North Division Champions of the Carolina League in the first half and have already clinched a spot in the playoffs. After defeating the Fredricksburg Nationals in three games in the North Division Championship, they look to knock off the RiverDogs this week.. In that series, they averaged almost eight runs per game. Omir Santos is in his first season as manager in Lynchburg. Santos spent last season as manager for the Dominican Summer League team.
After clinching a spot in the playoffs with a two-game sweep against Myrtle Beach, the Charleston RiverDogs, an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, are back in the championship round for a second straight season.. Offensively, the RiverDogs lead the Carolina League with a .254 team batting average. Recently, they have been led by Shane Sasaki, the Player of the Month in August. The 2019 third-round pick out of Hawaii is a heavy leader in two categories; his .324 batting average is far and above the best in the league and his .497 slugging percentage also leads the league. On the mound, there are a number of guys that have helped the RiverDogs this season. LHP Antonio Jimenez has been a consistent starter in the RiverDogs rotation with a 3.74 ERA, third best in the Carolina League. Led by Blake Butera, the best team in minor league baseball is trying to finish their memorable season with another title.
This season has been a special one for the defending champion Charleston RiverDogs. They have the best record in Minor League Baseball and have earned a spot in the playoffs for a second straight season.. There are numerous highlights from this year that fans can choose from, but here is a look at the top moments from the 2022 RiverDogs.
#5: Vernon’s Dominant Month of May
Austin Vernon was among the best in the Carolina League during his time in Charleston. In 15 appearances for the RiverDogs this season, he was 9-1 with a 1.69 ERA. In the month of May, he was flawless. Through 20.1 innings pitched across five appearances, he was 4-0 with a 0.44 ERA and at one time, led the minor leagues in strikeouts, earning him Carolina League Player of the Month.
Vernon gave up just one run the entire month, which came against the Delmarva Shorebirds on May 27. Though he gave up the run, do not let that fool you. That day, he was as dominant as ever. He went 5.0 innings, giving up the one run on four hits and striking out a season-high 11 batters.
Though his time in Charleston was short, Vernon showed the Tampa Bay Rays organization why they made the right decision drafting him in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of North Carolina Central.
#4:
July 4; Independence Day Miracle
After losing their first series of the season the week prior, the RiverDogs came back home to host the Augusta GreenJackets for their first home game on Fourth of July since 2018.
Things could not have started out any worse for RiverDogs as the GreenJackets immediately jumped out to a 7-0 lead, scoring in each of the first four innings. The RiverDogs could not get anything going until the bottom of the seventh inning.
Down 7-4 with the bases loaded, Oneill Manzeuta came up to the plate. He got a fastball and smoked a fly ball off of the foul pole in left field to give the RiverDogs an 8-7 lead. The largest crowd of the season at 6, 415 went crazy as the RiverDogs completed the comeback.
The lead expanded to 11-7, as the RiverDogs sent 12 men to the plate and scored 10 runs on six hits. They needed all 11 of those runs because the GreenJackets would not go away. They scored three runs in the final two innings and left the bases loaded in the ninth, giving the RiverDogs the narrow 11-10 victory.
This win was the largest come from behind win for the RiverDogs this season and started a run that has earned them the best record in all of Minor League Baseball.
#3: July 30; Late-Inning Magic in the Holy City
For most of this game, the RiverDogs once again found themselves down entering the final innings, but like most of this season, this team did not stop fighting.
Behind 7-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Down East Wood Ducks, the RiverDogs pulled off another miraculous comeback. With one out and men at second and third, Alejandro Pie doubled to narrow the Wood Duck lead to two.
Two batters later, down to his last strike, Shane Sasaki came through with an RBI single to keep the game going for Carson Williams. Williams, who was also down to his last strike, lined a ball into the gap and tied the game with an RBI triple to send it to extra innings.
After a clean inning from Brayden Theriot, the RiverDogs were threatening again in the bottom of the
tenth inning. With Spikes at second, Kenny Piper came to the plate with a walk-off in mind.
“I am just looking for a fastball again,” said Piper. “With two strikes, I am looking for something up and hard. He gave me that fastball and I did what I could with it to get the job done.”
He got the fastball on 0-2 and drilled it into right field just over the out-stretched arm of the right fielder to give the RiverDogs the walk-off victory.
#2: June 23; Leon Lifts the RiverDogs to Victory
With a first half playoff berth on the line, the RiverDogs found themselves behind 2-0 entering the bottom of the ninth inning against the Columbia Fireflies.
After the first two men struck out to begin the inning, the RiverDogs started a rally, as Bobby Seymour lined a double into the gap. Then, down to his last strike, Shane Sasaki lined a single into center field to cut the Firefly lead to 2-1.
With Luis Leon coming to the plate, the Fireflies made a pitching change. On the first pitch after the change, Leon sent Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park into a frenzy with a walk-off two-run home run to keep the RiverDogs alive in the playoff race.
Though the RiverDogs were unable to clinch a playoff berth that night, Leon’s home run will be remembered by many RiverDogs fans in attendance.
#1: September 7: Ticket Punched Via Long Ball
After a game one victory against the Columbia Fireflies, the RiverDogs needed just one win to clinch a second half championship and a chance to play Myrtle Beach in the playoffs. While it took extra innings to do so, the RiverDogs got it done with three home runs in the 11th inning to win 11-7.
Ahead 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the RiverDogs were one out away from victory, when the Fireflies tied the game with a two-run home run.
After both teams exchanged runs in the 10th inning, the RiverDogs got some help. Junior Caminero launched a two-run home run of his own to give the RiverDogs the lead. After that, Willy Vasquez and Brock Jones followed that up with solo home runs, giving the RiverDogs the win and a chance to defend their crown.
Roel Garcia was fantastic on the mound, pitching the final 2.1 innings. He picked up the win, giving up just one hit and striking out three.
The regular season was one to remember for the RiverDogs, who look to make more memories in the 2022 season. The season starts over on Tuesday night, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans look to upset the RiverDogs and earn a spot in the championship series.
