GreenJackets-Braves Split Twinbill
Published on June 12, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets and Rome Braves split their series-opening Tuesday doubleheader with the GreenJackets claiming a 5-1 victory in the opener and the Braves rallying to salvage a split with a 4-3 win against Augusta in the nightcap.
In game one, the Braves opened the scoring with a Robby Hefflinger first-inning RBI single to go up 1-0 before the GreenJackets roared back to score the game's final five runs. In the bottom of the first, Jesus Galindo was hit by a pitch, stole second and took third on a throwing error before scoring on Kelby Tomlinson's RBI groundout to tie the game at one. In the second inning, Augusta took a 2-1 lead on a double play ball after Jose Flores and Jose Cuevas hit back-to-back singles to open the inning.
The GreenJackets extended the lead to 4-1 on a Rome error and a Tomlinson RBI single in the fourth. Augusta added another run on Brett Krill's sixth-inning RBI triple.
That was all the support Clayton Blackburn (3-2) would need as the GreenJackets' ace righty won his second straight start and his third in his last five outings. Blackburn allowed a run on two hits and two walks in six innings, striking out five. His counterpart, David Filak (3-6), threw well but didn't get the run support. Going the distance, Filak allowed five runs - two earned - in six innings on seven hits and a walk while striking out five.
In the nightcap, the GreenJackets battled hard but couldn't come back as the Braves earned the doubleheader split to set up Wednesday's rubber match. The Braves got on the board first for the second straight game, picking up a pair in the third off Augusta starter Chris Marlowe. After a walk and an error extended the inning with two outs, William Beckwith drilled a two-run double to put the Braves ahead 2-0.
Augusta picked up a run in the bottom half of the inning to pull to within a run, but a miscue on the basepaths cost Augusta another run that later loomed large. Galindo's RBI single put the GreenJackets on the board, trailing 2-1. With two outs and runners at first and second, Shawn Payne singled to left-center. Joe Staley would've scored easily, but stopped shortly after rounding third and headed back to the bag. With Galindo heading to third, the GreenJackets briefly had two runners at third base before Staley broke for home. Meanwhile, Payne was thrown out at second trying to stretch the single into a double before Staley crossed the plate to end the inning and keep the Braves' lead at 2-1.
In the fourth, Rome added two runs on a passed ball and an Abner Abreu RBI single to take a 4-1 lead. Augusta answered right away, getting a Wes Hodges solo home run to open the inning and cut Rome's lead down to two runs. With two outs in the inning, Augusta again mounted a rally as back-to-back singles by Cuevas and Staley put runners at the corners. Cuevas scored after an errant throw to second on a double steal to make it a 4-3 game but Staley was left at second to end the inning.
The GreenJackets would draw no closer as Rome pitching retired nine of Augusta's final ten hitters. Ryan Weber (2-2) got the win for the Braves, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk over five innings while striking out a career-best seven. Marlowe (1-3) was the victim of bad luck, allowing four runs - just one earned - on five hits and a walk while striking out four. John Cornely retired six of the final seven Augusta hitters to earn his second save of the year.
The three-game series is slated to be completed in a 24-hour span as the rubber match of the set comes on Wednesday afternoon. Kyle Crick (2-4, 3.45) will try to pitch the GreenJackets to their second straight series win over the Braves while Rome counters with Navery Moore (3-3, 4.15), who has already defeated the GreenJackets twice this season. First pitch comes at 12:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 11:50 a.m. on ESPN Radio 1340 AM and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 12, 2012
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