Frey Dominant In 5-2 Victory Over Pelicans
Published on May 7, 2024 under Carolina League (CarL)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: Left-hander Riley Frey worked seven scoreless innings, the longest outing of the year by a GreenJackets pitcher, en route to a 5-2 win at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach Tuesday night.
Frey was tasked with starting the season opener after his scheduled start Sunday was cut short. Frey had thrown 1.2 innings before the rain canceled the tilt with the RiverDogs, so it remained a mystery how prepared Frey was to bounce back on short notice. The Milwaukee product erased any worries expeditiously, going hitless through 5.2 innings and collecting his third win in as many starts. Frey allowed two hits and a walk, and found four of his seven strikeouts in his final two innings of work.
Despite Frey's best efforts, the game was far from a sure thing. Augusta's offense was held in check just as much as Myrtle Beach's was, as starter Ty Johnson and reliever Vince Reilly combined to hold the GreenJackets hitless in their first six innings. A walk and a hit by pitch in the first were the only base runners allowed by Johnson, who struck out a career-high nine batters but departed after just four innings due to a high pitch count.
Augusta threatened in the 7th against new arm Garrett Brown, as a walk, pickoff error, and single put men at first and second with nobody out. But Kade Kern hit a ground ball up the middle that seemed to be a routine double play, but turned even worse for Augusta when Drew Compton slipped rounding third and was tagged out for a Pelicans' triple play, the first in the Carolina League this season.
Despite the subpar end to the 7th, it was déjà vu all over again in the 8th, as Diego Benitez walked and then advanced on a pickoff error from Brown. Benitez moved to third on a Robert Gonzalez base hit, then scored on yet another errant pickoff throw from Brown, this one bouncing off the ribcage of Gonzalez. The GreenJackets would use a Jace Grady single, wild pitch, and Will Verdung sac fly to post a total of 5 runs in the inning against Brown and Francis Reynoso.
After the lengthy inning and now safely with the lead, manager Wynston Sawyer handed the ball to Adam Shoemaker to preserve the lead. Shoemaker pitched a clean 8th, and bounced back from allowing two runs (one earned) in the 9th to give Augusta it's 3rdwin in a series opener this season. Frey is now 3-0 on the year, while Brown took his first loss of 2024. The win brings the GreenJackets within a game of .500, and puts them 2.5 games behind the Fayetteville Woodpeckers at the top of the Carolina League South Division.
Cade Kuehler takes the mound tomorrow for Augusta, matching up with Mason McGwire. McGwire has been on a strict pitch count and innings limit so far this year, so the GreenJackets can expect to see multiple arms waiting in the wings. First pitch will be at 7:05 from Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The GreenJackets will be back home at SRP Park Tuesday, May 14th, beginning a season-long 12 game homestand against the Salem Red Sox and Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. The first six games feature giveaways, alternate jerseys, and specials galore. More info about all the exciting occurrences can be found here: https://www.milb.com/augusta/fans/gj-homestand-preview.
About SRP Park/Augusta GreenJackets The Augusta GreenJackets are the Single-A affiliate Atlanta Braves. 2024 Augusta GreenJackets Full, Half and 20-game season seat memberships are on sale now. To learn more about the benefits and to lock in your seat to cheer on the Braves of tomorrow, visit www.gjmembers.com or call (803) 349-WINS (9467). For team merchandise or more information visit www.greenjacketsbaseball.com. Stay up to date on all things GreenJackets and Events at SRP Park by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and sign up for the 'Jackets Buzz e-newsletter today by visiting https://atmilb.com/3yr4mrw SRP Park is the anchor piece of Riverside Village, a live, work, "playball" development which includes apartment living, retail, restaurants, class "A" office space, and a Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. To learn more about SRP Park and hosting events and availability, visit www.thesrppark.com.
Carolina League Stories from May 7, 2024
- RiverDogs Strand 12 in Extra-Innings Loss - Charleston RiverDogs
- Cox Goes Yard In 10th To Beat 'Dogs 5-4 - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Pitching Shines on Both Sides as Pelicans Drop Series Opener to GreenJackets 5-2 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Frey Dominant In 5-2 Victory Over Pelicans - Augusta GreenJackets
- Santander Homers for Lone Run in Loss to Mudcats - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Isbell Gets Fireflies Third Four Punchout Inning Tuesday - Columbia Fireflies
- Mudcats Take Series Opener in Fayetteville - Carolina Mudcats
- Kannapolis Falls in Series Opener against Delmarva Tuesday - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Delmarva Takes Series Opener in Kannapolis - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Early Lead Doesn't Hold in Setback - Down East Wood Ducks
- Shorebirds to Host Cecil Fielder Baseball Hitting Camp June 25 - 26 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Hall to Wisconsin; Walling Added from ACL Brewers - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.7 vs Salem - Columbia Fireflies
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