A Super Comeback at The Lake
Published on June 7, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Sunday evening the GreenJackets and Legends took the field at Lake Olmstead Stadium for their last game of a four game series. After three games the Legends led the series two games to one. Starting Pitcher Mark Reyes (1-2 ERA 1.92) was determined to help the GreenJackets split the weekend series. The GreenJackets dug themselves out of a five run deficit in the back half the game to send the contest into extra innings. In the bottom of the twelfth inning Jeremy Sy hit a walk-off single to score Skyler Ewing for the GreenJackets six to five victory.
In the top of the third inning the Legends manage to push across the first run of the game. With two outs center fielder Alfredo Escalera-Malonado ripped a line drive to center field that allowed Corey Toups to score from first base.
The Legends were able to put up two runs in the top of the fourth to increase their lead to three to zero. Elier Hernandez scored the first run of the top of the fourth when Jonah Arenado misjudged a ball hit to him by Wander Franco. After two batters, Franco made his way to third base for Corey Toups to be able to hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the RBI.
After shutting down the GreenJackets offense for a fourth straight inning the Legends picked up right where they left off with their bats during the top of the fifth inning. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado put himself into scoring position after Mark Reyes threw his second wild pitch of the night. Right fielder Elier Herandez recorded one of his four hits on the night to bring home Escalera-Maldonado. With two outs and Elier Hernadez standing on second base, Wander Franco hit his eleventh double of the year. The double scored Hernadez and gave the Legends a comfortable five run lead just after five innings of play.
With Sunday's game being final game of the homestand that is also leading into a day off, it could have been extremely easy for the Augusta GreenJackets to put themselves into cruise control and accept defeat. Luckily for the GreenJackets fans and manager Nestor Rojas, his team has the never say die attitude. In the bottom of the seventh inning the GreenJackets looked to third baseman Jonah Arenado to start a rally. Arenado was able to get the GreenJackets bats moving along with a lead off single. After Matt Pare hit into a fielders choice and a wild pitch by Colin Rodgers, Arenado was threatening to score the GreenJackets first run at third base. Jeremy Sy hit a single to earn himself his first RBI of three for the game and the GreenJackets finally managed to put a run on the scoreboard. Fast-forwarding two batters later and Andrew Cain on third base, Johneshwy Fargas hit his second double of the game to move the GreenJackets a run closer to the Legends.
Still down three runs and only two at bats left the GreenJackets had to work quickly if they wanted to get back into the ball game. Skyler Ewing extended his hitting streak to five games in the bottom of the eighth inning when he hit a ground ball that made its way into the outfield. Ewing then flashed off his speed by stealing second base (Ewing's first stolen base of the year). Jonah Arenado managed to hit a line drive single to move Ewing up a base and put himself on first base. Next up catcher Matt Pare hit a single to knock in Ewing (Pare's seventh RBI since he joined the GreenJackets on May 27th.) Jeremy Sy collected his second RBI of the night by singling in Arenado from third to cut the Legends lead to just one. After another Andrew Cain walk to load the bases, Will Callaway hit a sacrifice fly deep enough to left field for Matt Pare to score from third base to tie the game at a score of five to five.
With a tied game both pitching staffs were able shut down the offenses to send the game into extra innings. This would be the second game of the series that the Legends and GreenJackets needed extra innings to decide upon a victor. (Thursday night the Legends won in fourteen innings.) In the top of the tenth Nestor Rojas went to his relief pitcher Raymundo Montero. Montero was able to get himself out of trouble in the top of the tenth and eleventh innings to give the GreenJackets a chance to win the game but both times the GreenJackets offense failed to produce a winning run.
Raymundo Montero finished off the Legends in the top of the twelfth inning for his third and final inning of relief work. Montero's three extra innings of pitching, Montero only allowed three hits and struck out two batters. What was even bigger than his numbers during the extra innings was the momentum he gave the GreenJackets batters going into the bottom of the twelfth inning.
Skyler Ewing led the bottom of twelfth inning off with a walk from pitcher Evan Beal. Jonah Areando beautifully executed bunt to move Ewing up to second base. Jared Deacon came up for a pinch hit at bat for catcher Matt Pare. Deacon also drew a walk to add to the pressure that was mounting on the shoulders of Evan Beal. With the GreenJackets fans on their feet, Jeremy Sy stepped up to the plate. Sy who is now on a four game multiple hit streak was ready to bring home the victory for the GreenJackets. Sy smacked a gap shot to right center field that sent Ewing and the GreenJackets fans home with smiles on their faces for the twelve inning walk-off victory.
The final scoreboard line would read, six runs, thirteen hits, and two errors for the Augusta GreenJackets (27-29) and five runs, thirteen hits, and zero errors for the Lexington Legends (25-32). Raymundo Montero (3-2 ERA 1.40) took home the win for his extra inning efforts and Evan Beal (1-1 ERA 1.88) will receive his first loss of the season.
The GreenJackets will have Monday, June 8th off from baseball. Tuesday morning the GreenJackets will pack their bags and hit the road for a three game series with the Greenville Drive in Greenville.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 7, 2015
- A Super Comeback at The Lake - Augusta GreenJackets
- GreenJackets Come Back for 12-Inning 6-5 Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Five-Run First Propels Tourists to 5-2 Win - Asheville Tourists
- Shorebirds use two big innings to beat Iâ??s - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Delmarva Pours It on Late in Finale, 9-1 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Bullpen Throws Nine Scoreless Innings, R'Dogs Fall 5-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Crawdads Leave Lakewood with 5-3 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Coley Hurls Power past Rome 4-3 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Sand Gnats Sweep Drive with 3-1 Win - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Complete Sweep of Drive 3-1 Sunday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Rome Falls to West Virginia, 4-3 - Rome Emperors
- Hickory Tops Claws 5-3 on Sunday at FirstEnergy Park - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hoppers Wind up on Losing End, 3-2 - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Hoppers Flirt with No-Hitter, End with 6-1 Victory - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- WV Power Game Notes: June 7, 2015 at Rome - Charleston Dirty Birds
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