May 22, 2013
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Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short in 5-3 Loss

May 20, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL) Augusta GreenJackets

Savannah, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets had just one hit through the first eight innings on Sunday afternoon but didn't go down without a fight. They scored three times in the ninth, but left the tying run at second in a 5-3 loss to the Savannah Sand Gnats as the Gnats took the final two games of the series to salvage the split with Augusta in the four-game set.

Trailing 5-0 in the ninth inning, the GreenJackets loaded the bases on back-to-back walks and a hit batsman. Jose Cuevas brought home a run on a sacrifice fly to break up the shutout before Joe Staley reloaded the bases on his second hit of the game. Savannah lefty TJ Chism entered the game in search of his second save in as many nights but Carlos Willoughby had other ideas.

Willoughby dropped a two-run double inside the left-field foul line to make it a 5-3 game and put the tying runs on second and third. Chism recovered though to get Alberto Robles to ground out to the mound to end the game, preserving the win and Chism's fifth save of the year.

The Sand Gnats got on the board in the second inning on Brian Harrison's two-out RBI double to claim a 1-0 lead. Savannah threatened against Augusta starter Kevin Couture in the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but Couture got a groundout to end the inning. In his second start of the year, Couture (2-2) tossed four innings and allowed a run on three hits and three walks while striking out a pair.

Savannah added two runs in each the sixth and seventh innings. Dustin Lawley greeted Augusta reliever Paul Davis with a solo homer to lead off the sixth and Travis Taijeron followed with a triple to right-center. Aderlin Rodriguez's bloop double scored Taijeron to make it a 3-0 game. In the seventh, an error put a man aboard for TJ Rivera and Rivera took advantage by drilling a two-run homer - his sixth of the year - to give Savannah what looked to be a comfortable five-run edge.

Sand Gnats starter Rafael Montero (3-2) was nearly untouchable in his six scoreless innings, retiring 18 of the 21 batters he faced. He allowed only a hit and back-to-back, one-out walks in the sixth before escaping that inning. Montero struck out five in his third win of the year and first in three starts against the GreenJackets.

The GreenJackets continue their seven-game road swing on Monday with the first of a three-game series against the Rome Braves. Edwin Escobar (2-2, 2.73) takes the ball for the GreenJackets and will face Rome's Navery Moore (2-1, 3.63). First pitch from Rome 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 on Thursday May 24th to open a four-game set with the Sand Gnats on another Thirsty Thursday, presented by The Library. First pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6. Fans can enjoy dollar domestic drafts and soft drinks throughout the night. 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.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 20, 2012


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