Ninth Inning Runs Snap GreenJackets Skid
Published on April 19, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Greenville, SC - The Augusta GreenJackets survived a wild ninth inning to hang on for a 9-8 win over the Greenville Drive in the series opener between the teams on Thursday night.
With the game tied at six going into the ninth, Ben Thomas reached on an error and scored the go-ahead run on Chuckie Jones' double off the center field wall to give the GreenJackets a one-run lead. Eric Sim followed with a two-run home run - a moon shot that landed on top of the New York Life building beyond the left-field fence - to give Augusta a three-run edge on Sim's first round-tripper of the year.
Greenville rallied in the ninth, getting the leadoff man on base on a GreenJackets error. With two outs in the frame, Henry Ramos walked to bring the tying run to the plate. Keury De La Cruz followed with a triple into the right-field corner that plated a pair and put the tying run at third with two outs in the ninth. Cody Hall, on the mound for Augusta in the ninth, got Bryan Johns to ground out to end the game though and preserve Hall's third save of the season.
In a game of back and forth momentum shifts, the GreenJackets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before the Drive rallied to stake their claim. Jose Cuevas singled home a run to give the GreenJackets an early lead in the first before Thomas tripled home two more to push the lead to 3-0. The GreenJackets tacked on another in the second on Michael Mergenthaler's sacrifice fly.
The Drive claimed the lead after back-to-back, three-run innings in the fourth and fifth. De La Cruz and Cody Koback singled home runs in the frame while Greenville got another on a Johns sacrifice fly. The fifth is the inning where the Drive chased Augusta starter Chris Marlowe, who lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed five runs on ten hits. Miscommunication in the outfield allowed Garin Cecchini to lead off the frame with a double to left-center. He'd score on Boss Moanaroa's RBI single to tie the game at four. Jose Vinicio singled home two more to give the Drive their first lead of the night at 6-4.
Augusta scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game before taking a lead in the ninth. Kelby Tomlinson's solo home run cut the deficit to one run in the seventh while John Eshleman singled home the tying run with two outs in the eighth inning to knot the game at six.
Adalberto Mejia (1-2) retired three of the four he faced in the eighth inning - his only inning of work - to get the win for the GreenJackets. Tyler Lockwood (0-1) allowed three unearned runs in the ninth inning to take the loss for the Drive.
The GreenJackets will send Bryce Bandilla (1-0, 2.25) to the mound on Friday in his first start of the season as they attempt to win their second straight. He'll face fellow lefty Mickey Pena (1-1, 3.72). First pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1340 AM and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
The GreenJackets return home to open a seven-game homestand on Tuesday April 24th against the Kannapolis Intimidators at 7:05 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m.
Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 19, 2012
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- Skole Blasts Walk-Off Homer, Suns Beat Lakewood 11-9 - Hagerstown Suns
- Crawdads Swat Sand Gnats with 7-1 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Hot Hitting Continues as T's Return Home; Win 10-6 Over Braves - Asheville Tourists
- Crawdads Triples' Trip Gnats 7-1 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Legends Take Series Opener in Kannapolis - Lexington Legends
- Ninth Inning Runs Snap GreenJackets Skid - Augusta GreenJackets
- Grasshoppers Walk off with 8-7 Win in Game One - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Legends Edge Intimidators in 9th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Larsson Placed on DL - Rome Emperors
- Shorebirds Game Notes at Greensboro - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame Seeks Nominations - Charleston RiverDogs
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