Catfish ready for doubleheader against Augusta

Published on August 31, 2005 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbus Catfish News Release


The Columbus Catfish (57-72, 29-31 2nd half, 6th SAL-Southern, 7.0 GB) play the second and third games of a four-game series in a doubleheader with the Augusta GreenJackets (72-56, 32-29 2nd Half, 2nd SAL-Southern, 4.5 GB of 1st), the Single-A Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Because of a rain postponement on Monday, the teams will play two seven-inning games tonight starting at 6:00 PM. Augusta took the first game of the series last night in a 9-8 victory, the 7th victory over the Catfish this season by one run. Augusta holds a 9- 4 advantage in the season series. Tonight at 6:00 PM, RHP Arismendy Castillo makes the start in the first game of the doubleheader, his first start of the 2005 season, while RHP Jordan Pratt will also make his first start for the Catfish this season as he toes the rubber for the start in the second game. The second game tonight is scheduled for 30 minutes after the final pitch of the first matchup.

LF Ryan Carter had a two-run triple and a three-run home run but the Augusta GreenJackets scored seven runs in the third inning and beat the Columbus Catfish 9-8 at Golden Park in the opener of a four-game series. The Fish rallied to within a run down 9-4 in the eighth, but stranded the tying run at first in the ninth inning. 3B David Nicholson, CF Ryan Russ, and 1B Dan Batz all had three-hit games for the Fish, with Batz reaching in all five plate appearances. With just seven games left in 2005, the Fish are 7.0 games back of 1st place Kannapolis with a 29-31 second half record (57-72 overall). Shark Attack: LF Ryan Carter has been the best hitter for the Catfish in the last month, with hits in 22 of his last 26 games. Carter has gone deep in three straight games and leads the Catfish with 13 round-trippers despite playing in just 53 games, hitting .343 in August with 9 HR and 30 RBI. He has 11 RBI in the last five games. 3B Blake DeWitt was promoted to High-A Vero Beach Thursday after playing in 113 games for the Catfish, hitting .283 with 11 HR and 65 RBI. At the end of last month, 2B

Travis Denker was promoted to Vero Beach after a .311, 21 HR, 68 RBI performance in 101 games. DeWitt and Denker combined for over 20% of the HR and RBI for the Catfish this season. 3B Eduardo Perez was called up from the GCL Dodgers to take DeWitt's roster spot.

The Augusta GreenJackets are in their first year of a player development contract with the San Francisco Giants. After finishing the first half of play with a 40-27 record and a second place finish, the GreenJackets are again in second place in the second half, 4.5 GB of Kannapolis at 32-29. The 72-56 overall record is the league's 3rd best. Augusta has played three series with the Fish, winning both at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta and splitting the lone series at Golden Park with the Catfish, holding a 9-4 record over Columbus. RF Brian Horwitz leads the club and is tied for the league-lead with a .336 average, as Augusta is tied for third in the SAL with a .269 team BA. They are third in the league in SB with 160, as CF Alex Requena and SS Marcus Sanders are both in the top five in the SAL in steals. The GreenJackets 4.19 ERA in 9th in the SAL. Hitting Notes: The Catfish have a team batting average of .262 (T-7th in the SAL) and are now 11th in the SAL in runs with 604. The Catfish have hit 103 HR, 6th in the SAL. With the promotions of 2B Travis Denker and 3B Blake DeWitt, CF Ryan Russ leads Catfish seasonlong players with a .282 average and 48 RBI. LF Ryan Carter has homered nine times in August for a total of 13 this season to lead the club.

The Catfish team ERA stands now at 4.10 after 129 games (8th SAL). Last Tuesday for the first time since the 16th of May the Fish posted a team ERA above 4.00. The Catfish have tossed nine shutouts (5th in the SAL). The Fish lead the league in base on balls with 503 allowed. LHP Scott Elbert has tossed two shutouts and is fourth in the league with a 2.70 ERA. RHP Blake Johnson leads the pitching staff with a 9-4 record. RHP Albenis Castillo has pitched well out of the bullpen lately picking up ten saves in his last ten opportunities. Team Defense: The Catfish have committed 147 errors in 129 games this season. The Catfish made two errors last night in the 9-8 loss to Augusta.

Sunday's game at Savannah was the final road game of the 2005 season. The Fish finished 2005 with a 27-42 overall road record, 17-17 in the second half and 10-25 in the first half. The Fish are 12-14 at home in the second half and 30-30 at Golden Park this season overall. One-Run Games: The Catfish are now 11-28 in one-run games this season after Tuesday night's 9-8 loss to Augusta. The Fish have lost seven of those one-run games to the GreenJackets. Columbus

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 31, 2005


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