Braves Sweep Matinee Twinbill
May 22, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Rome, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets had fewer hits than Rihanna had on her latest album in a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Rome Braves. The GreenJackets had just two hits in a 3-1 loss to Rome in the opener while they tallied three in a 6-2 game two setback.
The GreenJackets struck first in the opener for the fourth time on their current road trip with a run in the third inning. Jeff Arnold doubled to lead off the frame and came around to score on Jesus Galindo's groundout to put the GreenJackets on the board with a 1-0 lead.
Rome claimed their first lead of the twinbill in the fourth inning with three hits off Edwin Escobar. The third of those hits - Will Skinner's RBI double - tied the game at one. A Brandon Drury groundout gave the Braves a 2-1 edge later in the inning. The Braves added another run in the sixth when Kyle Kubitza tripled to open the frame and scored on a dropped fly ball in center.
Escobar (2-3) was solid for the GreenJackets, delivering five innings for the sixth time in his seven starts this season, but got poor run support. He allowed two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out four in his second straight loss to the Braves.
Rome's Navery Moore (3-1) earned his second straight win against the GreenJackets with six stellar innings. Moore allowed one unearned run on two hits and five strikeouts. In the seventh, Ryne Harper struck out one in a perfect final frame to pick up his fourth save of the year and third against Augusta.
In game two, the Braves touched up Joseph Biagini for five runs in the third inning, never looking back in their first doubleheader sweep of the year. After a walk and a double put runners at second and third with no one out, Biagini struck out Tony Mueller. But a wild pitch allowed Mueller to reach and Elmer Reyes to score and give the Braves an early lead. Kubitza followed with a two-run single to push the Rome lead out to three runs while William Beckwith's single chased Biagini and made it a four-run game.
Rome would get a fifth run on a double play ball but the damage was already done against Biagini (0-3). The righty allowed five runs in two-plus innings on three hits and four walks while striking out four.
Augusta got back in the game in the fourth on Mark Minicozzi's two-run double to make it a 5-2 game. Minicozzi was stranded at third to end the inning and the GreenJackets left another man on in the fifth. That would be their final baserunner of the game as Ian Thomas fired two perfect innings of relief to earn his first save of the year in his first outing of the season.
Ryan Weber held the GreenJackets to two runs - one earned - on three hits and a walk in four innings with the win going to Wilson Rivera (1-0) after his scoreless fifth inning. The Braves added an insurance run in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Reyes.
The sweep gives the Braves only their third set of back-to-back wins this season - with two of those coming against the GreenJackets. Augusta has lost their last four games overall and has lost their last four meetings against the Rome Braves. Coming into today, the Braves had won just three times at home before winning twice in one day. Four of Rome's 11 wins this year have come against the GreenJackets.
Clayton Blackburn (1-2) takes the ball on Wednesday afternoon for the GreenJackets in the series and road trip finale in an attempt to avoid being swept by the Braves. Rome sends Greg Ross (0-3, 860) to the mound in the matinee tilt. First pitch from Rome comes at 1:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 12:50 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.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 22, 2012
- 'Dads Split Second Straight Twin Bill with Kannapolis - Hickory Crawdads
- 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Inning HR's Highlight 11-9 Win - Asheville Tourists
- Kannapolis Falls Short in Game 2 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Gnats Flip Script, Defeat Dogs 5-3 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Charleston Drops a Heartbreaker to Savannah 5-12-12 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Suns and Grasshoppers Split Doubleheader - Hagerstown Suns
- Third Straight Win, 3-1 over Delmarva - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Shorebirds Bats Quiet in 3-1 Loss to Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators Hang on to Win Waterlogged Game 1 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Attempts Minor League Promotion of the Year - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Braves Sweep Augusta in Doubleheader - Rome Emperors
- Braves Sweep Matinee Twinbill - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads Host Intimidators and Legends this Week - Hickory Crawdads
- Tourists Take Late Night Affair from Drive; 7-5 - Asheville Tourists
- MiLB.com Launches Contest for "Best Mascot in Minor League Baseball" - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Blood Drive Before Next Tuesday's Game - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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