Early Deficit Proves Too Great For Augusta
April 11, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Rome, GA - In what has been the predominant early theme of the 2011 Augusta GreenJackets season, Augusta was unable to dig out of an early hole in an eventual 7-3 loss to the Rome Braves on Monday night.
Rome scored six times off GreenJackets starter Taylor Rogers in the first two innings of the contest, opening up a 6-0 lead. Opponents have now scored first against the GreenJackets in all five games this season and have done so in the first inning in each of the last four contests.
Christian Bethancourt, who finished a single shy of the cycle for Rome, tripled home a run in the first and scored on a sacrifice fly. The Braves sent eight men to the plate and collected four hits in their four-run second, with Bethancourt's RBI double and a Barrett Kleinknecht home run serving as the decisive blows.
Rogers (0-1) recovered to retire the last seven hitters he faced in his four inning stint, but the damage was done. Rogers allowed six runs - five earned - on five hits and a walk. Middle relief was a highlight for the GreenJackets as Shawn Sanford and Stephen Harrold limited Rome to one hit - a Bethancourt solo home run in the fifth inning - over the final four innings of the game. Sanford struck out three for Augusta.
The GreenJackets tried to chip away at the lead, getting a run on a Carlos Willoughby RBI groundout in the third and a Josh Mazzola solo home run in the fourth. Rome's pitching was too strong to do much though, as David Filak (1-0) earned the win with five strong innings for the Braves, striking out five and allowing just two runs. Ryan Weber limited Augusta to a run on three hits in the final four innings to get his first save of the season.
Augusta will need to win the last three games of the series with Rome to salvage a 4-4 record on the current road trip. They'll send Justin Schumer (0-1) to the mound tomorrow, in search of his first win, against Rome lefty Carlos Perez. First pitch will come at 7:05 with the pregame action beginning at 6:50 on WRDW AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
The GreenJackets play their home opener on Friday April 15th at 7:35 p.m. against the West Virginia Power. Single-game and Season Tickets 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 April 11, 2011
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