Early Offense Leads Augusta to Series Victory
June 26, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, NC: The Augusta GreenJackets (2-1) opened the second half of the regular season with a series victory over the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-2), 10-3 thanks to some explosive offense.
It all started with one of the best first innings of the season for the GreenJackets as they scored six times in the opening frame with Geraldo Quintero getting it all started with an RBI triple to score Cal Conley and make it 1-0. Quintero would then score on a double by Stephen Paolini to take the lead to 2-0. Adam Zebrowski followed him with a single that scored Paolini from second base to extend the lead to 3-0. The best swings of the innings came after that as Mahki Backstrom launched his second home run in as many days over the right-field wall to score himself and Zebrowski and push Augusta's lead to 5-0. Connor Blair joined the fun by going back-to-back with Backstrom as he belted a solo homer over the wall in left to complete a six-run first inning.
The offense would manufacture two more runs in the second on a two-run double by Stephen Paolini to score Cal Conley and Geraldo Quintero and make it an 8-0 game, Paolini's second double of the afternoon.
In the third, two more runs touched home for the GreenJackets on a solo homer by Brian Klein for his first long ball of the season, followed by Cal Conley who scored Braulio Vasquez on a ground-rule double to put Augusta ahead 10-0 after three.
That was plenty of support for starting pitcher Sam Strickland who dealt the best outing of his young career by tossing five innings with six strikeouts, both career-highs while allowing no runs or walks.
The game would remain 10-0 into the seventh until the Woodpeckers scored three runs to break the shutout. The Augusta bullpen denied them of any further comeback by taking care of business from there as they held on for a 10-3 win to earn a series victory by taking four of the six games in Fayetteville.
Sam Strickland (1-0) earned his first win of the season as starter Shea Barry was handed the loss for the Woodpeckers.
Every GreenJacket who started reached base at least once on Sunday as they were led by Stephen Paolini who drove in a season-high three runs with two early doubles. The offense also slugged three home runs that came off the bats of Mahki Backstrom, Connor Blair, and Brian Klein. Cal Conley finished with three hits in the game while also scoring two runs.
The GreenJackets now return home to face off with rival Columbia starting on Tuesday for their first homestand of the second half. The six-game series begins on Tuesday at 7:05 at SRP Park
The GreenJackets return home for an incredible week of promotions at SRP Park when they host the Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals) starting on Tuesday, June 28 with $2 TWOsday. Warrior Wednesday follows that along with Baseball Bingo and the Corona Bucket Special. It's Red, White, and Beer Thirsty Thursday to conclude the month of June. On Friday, July begins with another Braves Buzzfest in addition to House GreenJackets night where the first 1,000 fans can receive a house flag sponsored by Savanah River Brewing Company. Independence weekend at SRP Park is going to be big with two of the best fireworks shows of the year on both Saturday and Sunday night with the White Claw Pregame Concert Series prior to both games with Brandon Bower performing before Saturday's game, followed by Guns for Hire on Sunday.
Carolina League Stories from June 26, 2022
- Menendez Shines in Debut; RiverDogs Defeat Fireflies 4-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Late Surge Leads to Fireflies Loss - Columbia Fireflies
- Early Offense Leads Augusta to Series Victory - Augusta GreenJackets
- Romero Homers for the Third Time this Week; 'Birds Toppled 6-4 in Series Finale by Hillcats - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Wood Ducks Complete Six Game Sweep - Down East Wood Ducks
- Carolina Swept in Kinston Despite Hitting Three Homers - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes June 26 vs Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
- Anything But Ordinary: Tyler Uberstine's Journey to Professional Baseball - Salem Red Sox
- Garcia's Grand Slam Propels Sox to Win - Salem Red Sox
- Bratt and Webb Toss One-Hitter - Down East Wood Ducks
- Ballers Boosted by Veras' Three-Run Home Run in 6-3 Win over Pelicans Saturday - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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