MUSC-RiverDogs' Inaugural Healthy Challenge Winners

Winners Announced for MUSC-RiverDogs' Inaugural Healthy Challenge

Greg Shore Drops 22 Pounds to Take Home Top Prize

CHARLESTON, SC - Fans of the Charleston RiverDogs simply do not like to lose. However, in this case, the biggest losers were the biggest winners.

Partnering with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), the RiverDogs joined in the local Lighten Up Charleston Healthy Lifestyles campaign to eat smarter and healthier while combating obesity.

Fans registered with the initial weigh-in and after everyone tipped the scales for the final time, Greg Shore of North Charleston won by losing 22.6 pounds with an 8.6 percent total body weight loss.

For his loss, Shore wins a pair of 2014 RiverDogs season tickets and a free round of golf and cart for four at the City of Charleston's Municipal Course.

"Even though I struggle with my weight, I tend to not pay as much attention to the way I eat during the summer," said Shore. "I thought this would be a good way to challenge myself.

Second place went to Alan Cabading of Charleston, who dropped 9.6 pounds with a 4.7 percent total weight loss. For his loss, Cabading receives three personal-training sessions at the MUSC Wellness Center and a body composition test at the Wellness Center along with four tickets to the Old Slave Mart Museum in downtown Charleston.

Third place was awarded to Bobby Stephens of West Ashley, who lost 6.2 pounds with a 3.46 percent total weight loss. For his effort, he receives fresh vegetables and herbs from MUSC's Urban Garden, as well as healthy cooking tips and recipes. In addition, Stephens won a complimentary tour of the farm and an education lesson (up to 20 people) and four tickets to downtown's Old Exchange Building.  

"I am so proud of the participants who took part in the RiverDogs Healthy Challenge and committed to eat healthier and be more active," said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. "The challenge is a successful example of our community coming together to support and encourage each other to be healthy. I commend the RiverDogs for partnering with Lighten Up Charleston, MUSC Wellness Center and the MUSC Urban Farm to sponsor the challenge and inspiring their fans to live healthy lives."   

Starting in April and continuing throughout the RiverDogs season, the club promoted MUSC Healthy Challenge Tuesdays and the all-important eating healthy lifestyle through multiple on-field promotions and informative video board messages. 

Concessions also got into the act by introducing healthy items from the MUSC Urban Farm that included the popular veggie taco.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the RiverDogs to promote healthy eating," said Dr. Susan Johnson, Director of MUSC's Office of Health Promotion. "The new veggie taco made with fresh vegetables and herbs grown in the MUSC Urban Farm provided fans a healthy, delicious ballpark treat and were a perfect complement to the RiverDogs Healthy Challenge. We are proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to future collaboration with the RiverDogs, Lighten Up Charleston & the MUSC Wellness Center with the goal of making Charleston a healthier city."

"MUSC Wellness Center is proud to partner with the RiverDogs and promote healthy family fun at the RiverDogs games," said Janis Newton, Wellness Center Director.  "It was a perfect collaboration for the MUSC Wellness Center, MUSC Urban Farm, Lighten Up Charleston and the RiverDogs to implement the first RiverDogs Healthy Challenge. We are excited to join together and help Charleston become a healthier city and look forward to future joint efforts."

"In addition to a great partnership with MUSC, this has been a fun and worthy promotion," said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols. "Many people won by losing and we congratulate them as they attempted to reach their individual goals."

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original post can be seen HERE. 

Game Thread: Yankees @ Blue Jays 8/26

The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays start their three game set this week at Rogers Centre tonight at 7:05 pm ET. The pitching match up is Phil Hughes for the Yankees and RA Dickey for the Blue Jays and it can be seen on the YES network and MLB TV. No one is happier right now about traveling to our neighbor to the north more than the Yankees right now. We have only lost one game against Toronto all season long, albeit that loss came in Rogers Centre with Phil Hughes on the mound, and have beat the Jays all 10 times they traveled to New York this season. Phil Hughes has now gone eight straight starts without any kind of a decision and looks to improve on his 4-12 record for 2013.  RA Dickey looked solid his last time out until he surrendered that game winning home run to Alfonso Soriano so maybe we can get to him early and often tonight.

Here is the Yankees lineup

Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Curtis Granderson DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Austin Romine C

Follow us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes. Go Yankees!!

New York Yankees Memes: Phil Hughes Edition

This is just wrong... but it is what it is. Maybe someone can get a chuckle out of this one. 

New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays 8/26

The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays will start a three game set tonight across the border in Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Yankees will send Phil Hughes to the mound to face off with RA Dickey for the Blue Jays. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on the YES Network and MLB TV.

Game 131 Lineup: Yankees @ Blue Jays

Tonight at 7 p.m. catch the third installment of "The Captain Returns." Hopefully this is the LAST time he has to return from an injury. Here's your starting lineup!

Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Curtis Granderson DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Lyle Overbay 1B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Austin Romine C

Phil Hughes RHP

Some Notes and Transactions:

-- Well if you looked at the lineup, Derek Jeter is back. Also R.A. Dickey is on the mound so a word of advice to the Yankees: Keep your hands in because that knuckleball will find a way to hit you.

-- This isn't Yankees news but it's important to address it: Matt Harvey of the New York Mets had an MRI done at the Hospital of Special Surgery this morning and his MRI results revealed a partial tear in his UCL. He's going on the DL and will miss some time. I'm wishing Matt Harvey a speedy recovery and hope he returns soon.

Welcome Back Derek Jeter

The Greedy Pinstripes want to give a warm welcome back, again, to Yankees short stop Derek Jeter. He will be activated today and be in the lineup tonight in Toronto. If the Yankees have any shot at making the playoffs it goes through this man right here so no pressure Jeter but let's do work. Go Yankees! Welcome back Jeter!

Thunder, Flores Walk-off with Series Split with Portland

Thunder, Flores Walk-off with Series Split with Portland

Thunder LF with game-winning single in 10th inning

TRENTON, NJ - After relinquishing a 2-1 lead in the 9th inning, the Trenton Thunder rallied for a walk-off win over the Portland Sea Dogs in the 10th inning to keep their Wild Card lead in tact as the 2013 regular season rolls towards the finish line.

The Thunder entered the bottom of the 10th inning tied 2-2, and Reegie Corona collected his third hit of the night to lead it off. He then advanced to second base on a well-executed sacrifice bunt by Mason Williams to put Corona in scoring position with one out.

That was when Flores, who hadn't recorded a hit in his first four plate appearances on the night, delivered a single that skipped off the mound as it found its way into center field. Portland's center fielder Shannon Wilkerson charged the ball that was slowing down as it arrived to him and gunned to the plate. The ball sailed just high above the catcher Christian Vazquez and Corona slid safely to secure the win.

Starting pitcher Mikey O'Brien picked up a no-decision despite pitching well in 6.2 innings. It was the second longest start of the season for O'Brien who set an Eastern League career high with nine strikeouts while not walking a batter. He allowed a lone run which came in the second inning on a lead-off homer by Michael Almanzar to tie the game at that point, 1-1.

Danny Burawa entered the game for the Thunder in the bottom of the 9th inning with Trenton clinging to a 2-1 lead. The bases became loaded with no outs when Deven Marrero tried to get the lead for the Sea Dogs with a safety squeeze bunt. Instead, Marrero bunted it straight back to Burawa who threw to the plate and catcher Gary Sanchez fired to first base for a 1-2-3 double play.

That put runners at second and third base with two outs, but Burawa walked the next two batters to force in a run and tie the game 2-2. He ended the inning by freezing Michael Almanzar on strike three and strand the bases loaded.

With the win and a win by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Reading, Trenton's lead in the East Division Wild Card remains 3.0 games over the Fisher Cats but increases to 5.0 over the Sea Dogs with 9 games remaining in the regular season.

The Thunder welcome the New Britain Rock Cats to ARM & HAMMER Park for the first time this season in Trenton's final regular season home series of 2013. The four-game series begins Monday at 7:05 p.m. Trenton sends RHP Shane Greene (7-3, 3.22) to the mound against RHP Trevor May (8-9, 4.67) for the Rock Cats. Limited tickets available atwww.trentonthunder.com/tickets or by calling (609)394-3300. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and streaming online begins at 6:45 p.m.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

RiverDogs Make It Two Straight Against Asheville

RiverDogs Make It Two Straight Against Asheville

Charleston scores four in the seventh for comeback win; takes series 2-1

ASHEVILLE, NC - The Charleston RiverDogs were able to overcome a 5-2 deficit after five innings and five combined errors in the final three frames by their middle infielders to defeat the Asheville Tourists 8-5 on Sunday afternoon at McCormick Field in Asheville in South Atlantic League action. Charleston took the series 2-1 with the victory.

With the comeback win, the RiverDogs get back over .500 at 32-31 in the second half and 71-60 overall. The Tourists fall to 23-39 in second half play and 61-69 overall with the loss.

A day after scoring eight runs in the ninth to steal a win, the Dogs this time used a more spread out approach.

After Asheville jumped ahead 3-0 early thanks to a three run second inning on an RBI double by Max White and a two-run homer by Derek Jones. The home run was the third of the series for the lefty Jones.

Charleston chipped away with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings on RBI singles by Jackson Valera and Jake Cave to cut it to 3-2 game.

After starting pitcher Luis Niebla departed for the RiverDogs following four innings where he gave up eight hits, three runs, three walks, and collected two strikeouts, the Tourists bats were back at it in the bottom of the fifth.

Francisco Sosa homered of righty reliever Adam Smith, a solo shot, and then Zach Osborne knocked in David Bergin with a single to put Asheville back up by three, 5-2.

Sosa finished 4-5 with a homer, double, and two singles to pace the Tourists offensively. Derek Jones and Zach Osborne each chipped in with three hit games as well.

The Dogs scored the final six runs of the game thanks to Daniel Aldrich's second professional homer, and second long ball in as many days, a towering two run blast to right field in the sixth inning.

Just one inning later, Charleston blew the game open on doubles by Jose Rosario and Greg Bird, a single by Reymond Nunez, and an opposite field two run blast for Jackson Valera. They took an 8-5 lead and never looked back.

Valera turned in the best day at the plate for the RiverDogs with an impressive 3-4, three RBI performance. Jake Cave, Greg Bird, Daniel Aldrich, and Reymond Nunez all collected two hits each in the win as well.

Vicente Campos through two, scoreless innings of relief and fanned three en route to the win for Charleston to improve to 4-2.

Lefty James Pazos then earned his first save as a RiverDog by recording the final six outs and not allowing a run. Campos and Pazos combined to work around five errors on Charleston's middle infielders in the seventh through ninth innings of the game. Fu-Lin Kuo committed three errors at second base, and shortstop Jose Rosario got tagged with two.

Asheville starter Ben Hughes allowed 12 hits and six runs in 6.1 innings to earn the loss and fall to 8-11.

COMING UP: The RiverDogs head to the Upstate to begin a three game series in Greenville, SC against the Greenville Drive. Game one is Monday night at 7:05 and the starting pitchers are TBD. Fans can listen to the game live locally on ESPN Radio 910AM or online at www.riverdogs.com.

Box Score: http://atmilb.com/12ChqoH

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/26

On this day in 1991 the Yankees signed  first overall pick Brien Taylor to a $1,550,000 contract just two days after suspended Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said that if Gene Michael let him go "he should be shot." In typical Steinbrenner fashion though when he heard about the money that Taylor received he was outraged so you cannot win for losing.

On this day in 2002 Alfonso Soriano hit his 31st home run of the season setting a new Yankees record by second basemen passing Joe Gordon. Gordon hit 30 home runs as a second basemen in 1940.

On this day in 2002 the first ever baseball game was live streamed over the internet as the Yankees beat the Rangers 10-3. Approximately 30,000 fans watched the game on MLB.com and essentially saw the birth of MLB TV on this day.