Capahas keep the Riverdogs winless

~ Plaza Tire rolled to a 14-3 road victory Tuesday night.

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- The tradition-rich Plaza Tire Capahas have dominated the all-time series against the upstart Riverdogs, although in recent seasons several of the games were close.

That, however, has not been the case so far this year.

The Capahas posted their third lopsided victory over the Riverdogs in the past eight days, winning 14-3 on the road Tuesday night.

Plaza Tire improved to 7-4 while the Riverdogs -- who were previously based out of Cape Girardeau but now play all their home games in Charleston, Mo. -- fell to 0-9.

"I know it's frustrating for the guys," said Riverdogs co-manager Robin Minner, whose team is in its eighth year of existence. "But they're still playing hard and that's all you can ask."

Last year the Riverdogs beat the Capahas -- who were founded in 1894 and are believed to be the nation's oldest amateur baseball team -- for the first time.

But the Capahas lead the series with their local rivals 20-1. This year's other two meetings resulted in 9-0 and 10-0 Plaza Tire wins. The squads are scheduled to meet four more times, starting with Friday's 6 p.m. doubleheader at Capaha Field.

"We've had some good games with them in the past, but you never know from year to year," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen, who rejoined the team as his wife Mary has improved after recently undergoing emergency surgery for a blood clot.

Close through six

Tuesday's game was actually competitive much of the way as the Capahas led just 4-1 after six innings. But a four-run seventh and five-run eighth broke things open.

"It got away from us late, but it was a pretty good game for six, seven innings," Minner said.

Matt Stroup pitched the first six innings for the win, allowing four hits and one run. He struck out two and walked one.

Josh Parham, the Capahas' third pitcher, finished up with two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and struck out three.

Mike Taylor took the loss for the Riverdogs. He allowed just three hits in six-plus innings, but hurt himself by hitting five batters and walking two.

Taylor was charged with six runs (four earned) before the Capahas exploded against the Riverdogs' bullpen.

"He pitched a good game against us, and Matt got six good innings in," Bolen said.

The Capahas had 10 hits -- six in the final two innings -- and benefited from four errors, six walks and six hit batters.

Daryl Graham had two hits and four RBIs for the Capahas. Robby Moore added two hits and Levi Olson had three RBIs.

The Riverdogs had eight hits. Pat Slattery homered and had two hits, while Trevor Irwin and Steve Fowler both added two hits.

Olson's two-run double highlighted a four-run third inning as the Capahas went ahead 4-0. Leading 4-1, Graham's bases-loaded triple sparked a four-run seventh as Plaza Tire began to pull away.

The Capahas return to action tonight with a 7:30 p.m. game in St. Louis against the Golden Spikes.