Bullpen Comes Through in 6-5 Win
Published on July 30, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - With starter Taylor Rogers knocked out in the second inning, the Augusta GreenJackets bullpen knew they would have to step up and they did so in a big way on Saturday night. The GreenJackets âpen men fired eight scoreless innings in a come-from-behind 6-5 win over the Hickory Crawdads in front of 4,114 at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
The GreenJackets fell in an early hole as Rogers failed to retire any of the first six hitters of the game. Hickory scored four runs off Rogers on five hits and a walk as Tomas Telis doubled home a run, Josh Richmond singled home another and Christian Villanueva's two-run single put the Crawdads ahead 4-0 before the GreenJackets had recorded an out in the game. After Rogers got a double play ball to help him get out of the first, a line drive off his pitching elbow knocked him out of the game in the second.
Josh Mazzola cut Hickory's lead in half in the first with a two-out, two-run home run. It was Mazzola's tenth homer of the year, but his first at home. The homer also extended Mazzola's hitting streak to ten games, with extra base hits in nine of the ten.
With Rogers out, Justin Schumer stepped in and led the charge from the Augusta bullpen. Schumer fired 4.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing five hits and striking out four. Hickory got a run - charged to Rogers - on a sacrifice fly in the second but would score no more against Schumer, Mario Rodriguez, Seth Rosin and Brett Bochy.
The GreenJackets began their rally in the fourth, plating a run on Raynor Campbell's sacrifice fly. In the fifth, Augusta got three hits to open the inning and chase Hickory starter Cody Buckel. Carlos Willoughby tripled home a run to tie the game and scored on Chris Lofton's RBI single that knotted things at five.
Lofton again came through for Augusta in the seventh, doubling home the eventual winning run on his third hit of the night and second double of the evening to give the GreenJackets a 6-5 lead that the bullpen successfully held.
Rodriguez (4-5) retired all four hitters he faced to earn the win in relief for Augusta. Ben Rowen (2-4) allowed a run on just one hit in 2.2 innings to take the loss for the Crawdads. Bochy retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his second save of the year.
The GreenJackets send Mike Kickham (2-6, 4.54) to the mound on Sunday in an attempt to take three of four from the Crawdads, who'll counter with Roman Mendez (8-1, 3.69). First pitch comes at 5:35 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 5:20, airing on WRDW-AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS while further information can be found online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 30, 2011
- Suns Drop Shorebirds 8-6 In Ten Innings - Delmarva Shorebirds
- GreenJackets squeeze past Crawdads, 6-5 - Hickory Crawdads
- Bullpen Comes Through in 6-5 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power fall 5-4 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Bogaerts Bashes Two Homers as Drive Win 4-3 - Greenville Drive
- BlueClaws Get Big 5-4 Comeback Win On Saturday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Asheville's Slaats stops Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Bogaerts Buoys Drive to 5th Straight Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Savannah Sand Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- West Virginia Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Delmarva Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
