BY TIM BONTEMPS
Pat Venditte has been dominant this season for the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs. The ambidextrous pitcher from Creighton has been one of the best relievers in the minor leagues this season, going 2-2 with a 0.91 ERA and 20 saves.
But Venditte wound up being the losing pitcher in Tuesday’s South Atlantic League All-Star Game, giving up the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand the North All-Stars an 8-7 win. Venditte’s throwing error after allowing a single with one out and one on allowed Ronnie Welty of the Delmarva Shorebirds to score all the way from first with the winning run.
Venditte was one of seven players from the Mets and Yankees’ systems to make the game. Charleston was also represented by pitcher Hector Noesi (one scoreless inning), and outfielders Melky Mesa (1-for-2, strikeouts) and Dan Brewer (0-for-4, two strikeouts), while the Savannah Sand Gnats were represented by pitcher Robert Carson (.2 IP, two hits, two runs, two walks, strikeout), second baseman Josh Satin (0-for-2, two strikeouts), and outfielder Sean Ratliff (1-for-2, double, RBI, run, walk, strikeout).
Charleston finished the first half of the season a game behind South Division leader Greenville, while Savannah finished five games back.
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We’re now a week into the New York-Penn League season, and players on both the Brooklyn Cyclones and Staten Island Yankees have gotten off to hot starts.
We’ll start with the Cyclones, who have started the season 4-1. They have been led at the plate by recent draftee Alex Gregory, an outfielder the Mets took in the 17th round. Gregory has gone 6-for-14 with two doubles, a triple, four runs and four RBI. Matt Bouchard, an 11th round selection in 2007, also has gotten off to a hot start. The utility infielder has gone 8-for-20 with four doubles, four RBI and five runs scored.
On the mound, Brandon Moore and James Fuller have stood out so far for Brooklyn. Moore, a 14th round selection last year, went seven shutout innings in his first start, allowing four hits, striking out four and walking none against Hudson Valley. Fuller, a 21st round selection last year, gave up one unearned run on three hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in six innings.
For Staten Island, who has gotten off to a rough start at 1-4, there still have been a couple of standout players. Catcher Kyle Higashioka, who was a seventh round selection last year, has gotten off to a torrid start, going 4-for-11 with an RBI. Trenton Laire has the only win for the Yankees this season, giving up a run on three hits in 5.2 innings pitched and five strikeouts.
tbontemps@nypost.com