Payne's Grand Slam Drives 9-2 Augusta Win
Published on May 10, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - Shawn Payne came through at the right time for an Augusta GreenJackets team that has struggled at the plate with the bases loaded this season. His sixth inning grand slam - the team's first of the year - was the key blow in a six-run Augusta inning that thrusted Augusta to a 9-2 win over the Greenville Drive in front of 3,539 at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Thursday night.
With the game tied at two and the bases loaded in the sixth, Jose Cuevas was hit by a pitch to bring home the go-ahead run and bring Payne to the plate for the second time in the game with the bases full. Payne connected off Greenville reliever Matty Ott (3-2) for his second home run of the year and the team's first grand slam to give the GreenJackets a 7-2 edge, capping a five-RBI night for Payne.
Later in the sixth, Jeff Arnold - in his first game back with the GreenJackets this season - doubled home another run to push the lead to six runs. In the eighth inning, Michael Mergenthaler's two-out double gave the GreenJackets a 9-2 advantage. Cody Hall allowed a two-out double in the ninth, but retired three of the four hitters he faced to seal Augusta's second straight win.
After both teams managed a pair of hits, but no runs, in the first inning, starting pitchers Clayton Blackburn for Augusta and Jason Garcia for Greenville locked into an early pitchers' duel. Greenville broke through in the fifth, scoring a pair of two-out runs on back-to-back RBI singles by Garin Cecchini and Boss Moanaroa to go up 2-0.
Augusta rallied to tie things in their half of the fifth. With runners at first and second on inning-opening walks and no one out, Kelby Tomlinson beat out a sacrifice bunt attempt for an infield single to load the bases. After Cuevas popped out, Payne singled home a run on his first of two bases-loaded hits in the game. When Greenville right fielder Henry Ramos bobbled the ball, a second man scored to tie the game. Later in the inning with the bases full, the GreenJackets bounced into an inning-ending double play to kill that rally before Augusta mounted the go-ahead runs in the following inning.
Blackburn bounced back from a shaky outing last Thursday in Kannapolis, firing five strong innings in the no decision. He allowed two runs on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out a career-best eight. Greenville starter Garcia didn't survive the fifth, allowing two runs on four hits and a career-high five walks in 4.1 innings, striking out three.
Derek Law (2-0) fired two scoreless innings of one-hit relief to get the win for the GreenJackets, striking out three. In his second inning of work, Law allowed the bases to be loaded against him with no outs on a pair of walks and a single. He got two pop outs and a strikeout to escape the jam.
The GreenJackets and Drive will tangle in a doubleheader on Friday to make up for a rainout in Greenville three weeks ago. Chris Marlowe (1-1, 2.95) and Bryce Bandilla (1-2, 2.81) will start for the GreenJackets against Yeiper Castillo (3-0, 2.10) and Scott Swinson (0-0, 1.80). Friday's game is Bark in the Park Night, presented by Giving Your Best, and is the only night where fans may bring their dogs to the game as long as all dogs are kept on a leash. First pitch of Game One comes at 5:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 4:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1340 AM and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com. Gates open for the twinbill at 4:30 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 May 10, 2012
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