Extra Innings Loss Prevents Jackets Sweep
Published on June 19, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - After sealing a 6-0 win over the Asheville Tourists in the completion of a suspended game from Saturday, the Augusta GreenJackets dropped an 8-7 decision to the Tourists in eight innings after blowing three separate leads. With the loss in the finale, the GreenJackets missed out on the chance to end the first half with their first four-game sweep of the season.
Play resumed in the opener on Sunday with the GreenJackets leading 6-0 headed into the top of the fifth. On Saturday, the GreenJackets got three in the second - triggered by Ryan Scoma's two-run double - another in the third on a Devin Harris RBI double and two more on Carlos Willoughby's two-run home run in the fourth.
Pitching dominated in the completion of Saturday's suspended game as four GreenJackets relievers - Jacob Dunnington, Mario Rodriguez, Brett Bochy and Edward Concepcion - held the Tourists scoreless on two hits in five innings of relief, striking out eight. They combined with Taylor Rogers, who threw four scoreless innings on Saturday night, to complete the four-hit shutout. Dunnington (2-2) retired six of the seven men he faced to get the win, striking out four.
The nightcap was a pitchers' duel until the fourth when things went zany with the offenses for both teams. Augusta led 1-0 in the fourth when Raynor Campbell's two-run homer put the GreenJackets up by three. The lead wouldn't last long as Mike Kickham - who had allowed just one hit through the first four innings - was touched up for three runs in the fifth. A leadoff walk set up Chandler Laurent's two-run homer and the tying run scored later in the inning on Rafael Ortega's RBI single.
The GreenJackets took the lead a second time with a three-run fifth of their own. Adam Duvall's RBI double put the Jackets up a run, Josh Mazzola's single added another and a Scoma sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 6-3. In the sixth, the Tourists answered with three more runs. Reliever Gaspar Santiago walked the first two hitters he faced in the sixth before surrendering a home run to Brett Tanos that tied things at six.
Carlos Willoughby singled in a run in the sixth to give the GreenJackets a 7-6 lead that looked like it would last. With Drew Bowlin on and one out in the seventh, the Tourists threatened with runners at the corners when Bryce Massanari's smash to third took a bad hop and skipped past Raynor Campbell to bring home the tying run. In the bottom of the seventh, the GreenJackets stranded runners at second and third to send things to extras. Laurent scored the game-winner for Asheville in the eighth after he walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error. Mark Tracy's sacrifice fly brought home the eventual game-winner.
Chris Lofton hit a one-out single to put the tying run on for the GreenJackets in the eighth, but Josh Mueller got Willoughby to bounce into a game-ending double play to seal the win for Asheville and earn Mueller his first save of the year.
Juan Perez (4-2) gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless 1.1 innings to earn the win for Asheville while Stephen Harrold (4-3) allowed an unearned run while taking the loss for Augusta.
The GreenJackets send six to the All-Star Game in Salisbury, Maryland - pitchers Taylor Rogers, Shawn Sanford and Harrold and infielders Willoughby and Duvall join Pitching Coach Steve Kline - on Tuesday at 7:35 p.m. Augusta opens the second half in Savannah on Thursday night with Sanford (3-5, 2.99) taking the ball in the opener. First pitch in Savannah is at 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:50, airing on WRDW-AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
Single-game 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 June 19, 2011
- 1st-Half Champion Crawdads Fall to RiverDogs, 7-4 - Hickory Crawdads
- Black Drives in Four in First Half Finale - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- 'Dogs Deliver Three-Run 8th to End 1st Half on High Note - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Finish Sweep of Sand Gnats with 12-1 Blowout - Greenville Drive
- Extra Innings Loss Prevents Jackets Sweep - Augusta GreenJackets
- First Half Ends as Rome Drops Series Finale to Lexington - Rome Emperors
- Legends Top Rome, End First Half on Six-Game Win Streak - Lexington Legends
- Shorebirds Fall 11-4 in First Half Finale - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power vs. BlueClaws Game Cancelled Due to Unplayable Grounds - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Lakewood vs. West Virginia Rained Out, First Half over - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Savannah Sand Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- West Virginia Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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