Early Offense, Late Pitching Leads to 7-6 Win
Published on May 5, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - For the fifth time in a row, the Augusta GreenJackets earned a win in a series opener. On Thursday it was a 7-6 victory for the GreenJackets over the West Virginia Power in a game Augusta led early and never trailed, though the Power made it close several times.
The GreenJackets got off to a great start, pushing four runs across in the first inning to hand Austin Fleet a 4-0 lead. Jeff Arnold singled home a pair while Rafael Rodriguez followed that with another run-scoring single. The fourth run came home on an error that allowed Rodriguez to reach second.
Fleet worked in and out of trouble before being snakebitten in the fourth inning. Dan Grovatt's RBI double was the third of three straight hits in the frame and it pushed a run across to cut Augusta's lead to three. Fleet bounced back to get back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning and prevent further damage.
In the fifth, the Power again threatened Augusta's lead with a two-out, two-run Justin Howard double cutting the GreenJackets' advantage down to 4-3. Grovatt grounded out to first with the tying run at second to end the threat.
Fleet (3-2) scattered eight hits over five innings, allowing three runs - one earned - and striking out three without giving up a walk.
The GreenJackets began to pad their lead in the fifth on a Rafael Rodriguez RBI double to push their advantage back to two. Rodriguez had two hits and drove in a pair of runs to push his hitting streak to 13 games. Augusta added two more in the seventh on Bobby Haney's RBI single - his first hit as a GreenJacket - and a wild pitch that scored Chris Lofton from third.
West Virginia mounted one last charge in the eighth, scoring three times on four hits and a pair of walks against two GreenJacket relievers. With the bases loaded and the Augusta lead down to a run, Drew Bowling got Howard to fly out to end the inning and the threat. Stephen Harrold struck out two and needed just nine pitches in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his second save of the season.
Colton Cain (1-2) took the loss, firing 4.2 innings and allowing five runs - one earned - on three hits while walking three and striking out five. Cain's lone win came back at Lake Olmstead Stadium in the last homestand and on that night, he allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings.
Shawn Sanford (0-2, 4.29) gets the ball on Friday night as the GreenJackets look to take their second in a row over the West Virginia Power. Zack Von Rosenberg (0-1, 6.49) will oppose for the Power on Teacher Appreciation Night, with a special appearance by Mr. Belding from the TV show "Saved By The Bell." First pitch will come at 7:05 with the pregame action beginning at 6:50, airing online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
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 May 5, 2011
- Rome Blanks Savannah 2-0 Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Tourists Rout Shorebirds 10-2 in Game One - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Early Offense, Late Pitching Leads to 7-6 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- BlueClaws Take Opener of Road Trip 5-2 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Manzanillo Mitigates 'Dogs Damage, 'Claws Collar 'Dogs, 5-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Falter in 8th Inning, Lose to Intimdiators 3-2 - Greenville Drive
- 'Hoppers Spring to 4-2 Win Against 'Dads - Hickory Crawdads
- Intimidators Rally in Eighth Inning to Snap 4-Game Skid - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Slam by Freitas Helps Suns Take Opener Over Legends, 8-2 - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, May 5 Vs. Rome - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Shorebirds Game Notes: at Asheville - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Massey Sent to Extended; Tourists Receive Laurent - Asheville Tourists
- Tourists to Host Youth Clinics, Meet the Team Luncheon - Asheville Tourists
- Intimidators Return for 8-Game Home Stand Starting Tonight - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Ray Hathaway Elected to South Atlantic League Hall of Fame - Asheville Tourists
- GreenJackets Open Eight-Game Homestand Tonight - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- West Virginia Power Announce Yard Sale and Promotions - Charleston Dirty Birds
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