Five-Run Ninth Hands Nava First Win
Published on April 8, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Greenville, SC - In a game that saw two very distinct phases, the Augusta GreenJackets used a five-run ninth to catapult to a 6-2 win over the Greenville Drive and hand manager Lipso Nava his first career professional managerial win on Friday night in Greenville.
With the game knotted at one and runners on the corners in the ninth, Chris Lofton lined a single to right-center on the first pitch he saw from Dennis Neuman to bring Augusta the go-ahead run. Raynor Campbell added an RBI single in the frame, Lofton scored a third run on a wild pitch and Adam Duvall drilled a two-run blast over the left field fence to cap the five-run frame.
The early phases of the game saw a frustrated bunch of GreenJackets hitters as Greenville starter Kyle Stroup threw five scoreless innings of one-hit baseball, retiring 15 of the 17 hitters he faced. The Drive managed their first run in the first inning after Felix Sanchez tripled to open the frame. Sanchez scored on a groundout to give the Drive a lead they'd hold until the seventh inning.
Augusta starter Mario Rodriguez settled down after some early inconsistency to deliver a solid start for the GreenJackets. He fired six innings, allowing just the one run in the first, on three hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts. M. Rodriguez settled into a rhythm at the end of his start, retiring the last 13 hitters he faced.
The GreenJackets tied the game off Greenville reliever Juan Rodriguez in the seventh inning in a rally started after Sundrendy Windster walked with two outs. Rafael Rodriguez tripled to the deepest part of the park in right-center to score Windster from first and knot the game at one, where it stayed until the ninth. Jose Garcia's solo home run in the final frame was the only blemish in an otherwise clean inning from Stephen Harrold.
Jacob Dunnington (1-0) walked three in two scoreless innings of relief, but held on to get Augusta's first win of the season. Jordan Flasher (0-1) took the loss for Greenville.
Game three of the series will see a pair of righties take the mound as Augusta sends Austin Fleet to face Greenville's Anthony Ranaudo. 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 8, 2011
- Suns Shutout Braves in Second Road Contest of 2011 Season - Hagerstown Suns
- Hagerstown Blanks Braves - Rome Emperors
- GreenJackets Avenge Opening Day Loss, Defeat Drive 6-2 - Greenville Drive
- Legends get first victory of 2011 with 11-7 win over Charleston - Lexington Legends
- 'Dads make it two straight vs. Tourists, 6-4 - Hickory Crawdads
- Five-Run Ninth Hands Nava First Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Heathcott Homers Twice But Lexington Wins, 11-7 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats and Power Postponed Friday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Friday's BlueClaws Game Postponed; DH Saturday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Shorebirds April 8th Game Against Grasshoppers Postponed Due to Weather - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Game Notes: Friday, April 8 at West Virginia Power - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Shorebirds Game Notes: Vs. Greensboro - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Weekly Theme Nights Help Make Every Game Great - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Suns Victorious in 2011 Season Opener - Hagerstown Suns
- Braves Drop Home Opener - Rome Emperors
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