GreenJackets Declared Winner Monday Night in Hickory
Published on May 17, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Hickory, NC - The South Atlantic League and Minor League Baseball's statistics department today officially declared the Augusta GreenJackets a 6-5 winner over the Hickory Crawdads on Monday night, allowing the GreenJackets to take three of four from the Crawdads and giving them their first series win of the season.
The series finale between the two teams was suspended when heavy, persistent rain made further play impossible in the 11th inning. The game was not slated to be made up and both teams left the ballpark under the impression that although the individual statistics would count from the contest, there would be no winner declared because the Crawdads did not get a chance to hit in the 11th inning.
E-mail notice from the MiLB stats department arrived to both teams overnight, informing the teams of Rule 4.12C from the Major League Baseball Rulebook that gave the win to the GreenJackets. It states:
"Any suspended game not completed prior to the last schedule game between the two teams during the championship season shall become a called game. If such game becomes a called game and (1) has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, and one team is ahead, the team that is ahead shall be declared the winner."
Because the two teams will not meet again in the first half, the above rule took precedent. Word came down from South Atlantic League President Eric Krupa and MiLB's statistics department at around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday that the above rule will stand and the game has officially been finalized as completed early with the 6-5 score standing as the final score.
The GreenJackets had taken a 6-5 lead in the 11th on three walks and a single, with Carlos Willoughby drawing a bases loaded free pass from Hickory pitcher Kevin Johnson to bring in the go-ahead run on what turned out to be the game's final pitch. The game was delayed for 40 minutes before being called at 11:07 p.m. on Monday night, prior to the Crawdads chance to hit in the 11th inning.
The Crawdads got a run in the second on a sacrifice fly in the second, but Drew Biery's two-run homer in the third gave the GreenJackets a 2-1 edge. Rafael Rodriguez led off the seventh with his first home run of the season and later in the inning Raynor Campbell doubled home a pair to push the Augusta lead to 5-1.
Hickory began its comeback in the eighth off Jacob Dunnington, who faced five hitters in the inning without retiring any of them. Andrew Clark's two-run single cut Augusta's lead in half while Josh Richmond's RBI single after that cut the GreenJackets' advantage to one and sent Dunnington to the showers. With one out and the bases loaded, Drew Bowlin got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and temporarily preserve the one-run lead.
Jurickson Profar led off the ninth for the Crawdads and sent a 2-1 offering from Stephen Harrold over the right field wall to send the game to extras. Both teams had at least one man on in scoring position in the 10th but neither side could score. With the rain falling since the sixth, the game was only halted once it intensified in the 11th.
Harrold (4-1) was credited with the win while the loss falls on Johnson (1-1).
The GreenJackets return home on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game series with the Greenville Drive at 7:05 p.m. as the GreenJackets close in on their one-millionth fan under Ripken Baseball ownership. That lucky fan will win a trip for four to Disneyworld, courtesy of Augusta Vascular Center. Taylor Rogers gets the start for the GreenJackets in the opener. First pitch will come at 7:05 with the pregame action beginning at 6:50, airing on WRDW AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
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 .
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- Rome-Asheville Postponed Due to Rain - Asheville Tourists
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