GreenJackets Fall 6-1 in Series Opener
Published on September 1, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets committed four errors and ran themselves out of two potentially big innings in a 6-1 series opening loss to the Rome Braves in front of 3,453 fans on the season's final Thirsty Thursday at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
The Braves took the first lead of the game with three hits off Mike Kickham in the third inning. Tommy LaStella's RBI groundout put the Braves ahead 1-0. Later in the inning, Chris Garcia's two-out RBI single doubled the Rome advantage. All told, they scored four of their six runs with two outs in the inning.
The teams traded homers in the fourth inning as Ryan Delgado pushed Rome's lead to three with a two-out solo shot off Kickham. Devin Harris answered that blast with a solo homer of his own in the bottom of the inning to cut Rome's lead to 3-1. Harris's homer brought Augusta what would eventually be their lone run. The GreenJackets had runners at first and second with two outs in the sixth after they'd chased starter Sean Gilmartin. But Bobby Haney was thrown out at third while trying to advance on a wild pitch, ending the inning with Harris at the plate as the go-ahead run.
It was all Rome after that, as LaStella's two-run homer in the seventh pushed the lead to four runs. LaStella drove in four of Rome's six runs in the game. In the ninth inning, LaStella's RBI double pushed the Rome lead to 6-1 in an inning that saw the GreenJackets commit two of their four errors. The GreenJackets had a man at first with one out in the seventh, trailing by four, by Raynor Campbell was caught stealing to end that threat.
Kickham (5-10) battled in what was his second straight loss and third in his last four starts. He fired six innings and allowed three runs on six hits, without walking anyone, and striking out five.
Gilmartin (2-1), the first-round pick from the 2011 draft for the Atlanta Braves, looked sharp in his fifth start with Rome. He tossed 5.2 innings of one-run baseball, allowing five hits while striking out eight. No pitcher from either side walked anyone. Cody Martin threw 3.1 scoreless, one-hit innings to finish the game and earn his sixth save. Martin struck out four.
The GreenJackets send Ryan Bradley (3-2, 4.17) to the mound on Friday to try and even the series with the Braves. Rome sends Dan Jurik (2-1, 3.98) to oppose on Retro Cao Giveaway Night. The first 1,000 fans at the ballpark will receive free GreenJackets Retro Caps, courtesy of Horne's Pest Control. First pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50, airing on WRDW-AM 1630 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 while further information can be found online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
South Atlantic League Stories from September 1, 2011
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- GreenJackets Fall 6-1 in Series Opener - Augusta GreenJackets
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- BlueClaws Win 2nd Straight - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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- Former Gamecocks Standout Jackie Bradley, Jr. Joins Drive - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, September 1 at Lexington - Savannah Sand Gnats
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- Shorebirds Game Notes: Vs. West Virginia - Delmarva Shorebirds
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- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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