GreenJackets Fall in the Thirteenth Inning
June 5, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Thursday night the Augusta GreenJackets (25-28) returned home from a seven game road trip to take on the visiting Lexington Legends (24-30). Chris Johnson who just joined the GreenJackets team this Wednesday, made his first start of the 2015 season and Foster Griffin took the mound for his fifth start for the Legends. In a tight contest in front of a packed Lake Olmstead Stadium crowd Thursday night's game made it's way the way into extra innings. It was the Legends who pulled out the thirteen inning victory Thursday night with a score of three to two.
In the top of the second inning the Legends were able to strike first in the game. A double by center fielder Brandon Downes knocked in Wander Franco all the way from first base. Chris Johnson was able to shut down the Legends next two batters to end the top of the second inning with only allowing one run.
The GreenJackets did not wait around long to put runs of their own on the scoreboard. Skyler Ewing led off the inning with a single to left field. Ewing was able to advance into scoring position after designated hitter John Riley hit into a one-three fielders choice. Catcher Matt Pare shot a screaming low line drive down the first base line to allow Ewing to stroll into home from second base. Matt Pare has now had a hit in five of last six games. After two walks by Legends pitcher Foster Griffin, the GreenJackets had the bases loaded with two outs and Cristian Paulino stepping to the plate. In Paulino's past three games during the Charleston series, Paulino recorded multiple hit games in each. With two outs Paulino drove a ground ball through a hole of the left side of the infield to allow Pare to score from third base. Giving the GreenJackets a two to one lead in the second inning.
The top of the third inning GreenJackets pitcher Chris Johnson must have thought he had bad déjà vu from the second inning. When the Legends led off the third inning with a single by Humberto Arteaga and then Arteaga scored from first base on a double that hit to left field by Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado. The run tied the game a two runs per club. Once again Chris Johnson retired the side after the tying run scored to end the top of the third inning.
After two and half innings of offense, both the GreenJackets and Legends bats went quiet throughout the night. Both teams put themselves in scoring positions on several occasions but a run was never able to cross home plate to break the tie. Chris Johnson would leave the night after pitching five innings allowing six hits, two earned runs and striking out only two. Johnson would hand the ball over to the GreenJackets bullpen. The bullpen held the Lexington Legends scoreless for seven straight innings as zeros began to pile up on the scoreboard. Unfortunally for the GreenJackets, they were also unsuccessful in taking the lead throughout the night.
In the bottom of the ninth inning Jeremy Sy reached on a lead off walk and was able to make his way to third base with two outs. Standing only ninety feet away from the game winning run, Cristian Paulino hit a hard ground ball to the third baseman Wander Franco who handled the ball cleanly to make the in time throw to first base to send the game into extra innings.
In the top of the tenth inning the Legends were threatening to score with a runner on second base with only one out. GreenJackets pitcher Reyes Moronta was able to settle down on the mound and retire two straight batters to end the Legends scoring threat. The GreenJackets had the side retired in the bottom of the tenth inning by pitcher Emilio Ogando.
Once again in the top of the eleventh inning the Legends were knocking on the door to take the lead in the ball game. Brandon Downes hit his second double of the night with two outs. A wild pitch by Reyes Moronta allowed Downes to reach third base easily. Moronta was able to ease the drama at Lake Olmstead Stadium by forcing Samir Duenez to trickle a ball just inches in front of home plate, the swinging bunt allowed catcher Matt Pare to make the easy throw to first base for the final out.
A spark of life came out of the GreenJackets dug out with two outs in the bottom of the twelfth inning when Travious Relaford reached first base safely after third baseman Wander Franco had a hard time transitioning a high chopping ball from his glove to this throwing hand. With two outs Jonah Arenado came up to the plate looking to end the game with a GreenJackets victory. Arenado smacked a high curving line drive over the third baseman's head and into the left field corner. Manager Nestor Rojas sent Travious Relaford home in an attempt to score the game-winning run. Relaford was thrown out at home by a relay from left fielder Alfred Escalera-Maldonado to shortstop Humberto Arteaga and then finally to catcher Chad Johnson who applied the tag. Arneado was left standing on second base as the GreenJackets and Legends moved on to the thirteenth inning.
The top of the thirteenth inning Jake McCasland recorded the first two outs fairly smoothly for the GreenJackets. With two outs and no runners on, Wander Franco stepped to the plate for his sixth at bat of the game. Franco hit his second single of the night with a ground ball back up the middle that reached the center field grass. Catcher Chad Johnson, who came into the game during the bottom of the ninth inning, also reached base on a single. Johnson's hit moved Franco to third base with still two outs in the inning. With a one-two count on batter Brandon Downes, Jake McCasland make a crucial error by being called for a balk by home plate umpire Grant Conrad. The balk scored Franco and moved Johnson up to second base. The very next pitch McCasland struck out Downes to end the inning but the damage had already been done to the GreenJackets.
The Legends pitcher Emilo Oganado was able to force Skyler Ewing and Johneshwy to ground out for the first two outs of the inning. Down to their last out the GreenJackets once again, just as they have all year did not go down without making final out interesting. Aramis Garcia pinched hit for catcher Matt Pare and drew a walk. After a Legends pitching change to Jake Newberry, Jeremy Sy walked to put Garcia (the game tying run) into scoring position. Setting up Andrew Cain for a chance to be the Thursday night's hero. Cain who got down to his last strike ripped a hard line drive that looked as if it was about to hit the ground until center fielder Brandon Downes made an impressive running catch to end the game.
Tonight's final scoreboard line reads three runs, thirteen hits, and one error for the victorious Lexington Legends and two runs, eight hits, and no errors for the Augusta GreenJackets. Oganado picks up his third win of the season (3-3 ERA 2.43), Jake McCasland takes his second loss (0-2 ERA 5.63), and Thursday's night save goes to Jake Newberry (3).
Tomorrow night the Augusta GreenJackets and Lexington Legends are back in action at Lake Olmstead Stadium starting at 7:05pm with gates opening up to all guests at 6:00pm. The probable pitching match up includes Nick Stephenson (1-4 ERA 4.13) for the Legends and Pat Young (1-0 ERA 7.27) for the GreenJackets.
Friday night is all about cups and more cups! For Shepeard Community Blood Center night Stadium Cup giveaway for the first 2,5000 guests into Lake Olmstead Stadium. Guests will be able to fill their Shepeard Stadium cup for only $1 per refill (soft drinks only). Post game Kids Run the Bases and Launch-a-Ball.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 5, 2015
- Wild 6th Inning Leads to 4-2 'Dads Loss - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Build Early Lead in 12-1 Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- GreenJackets Collect Fifteen Hits in Victory - Augusta GreenJackets
- RiverDogs Outslugged by Tourists in 10-5 Loss - Charleston RiverDogs
- Power Stumble to 13-2 Setback - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Eighteen Hit Attack Leads Rome to 13-2 Win - Rome Emperors
- Iâ??s use long ball to beat Shorebirds - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Kannapolis Evens Series with Delmarva, 5-3 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Sand Gnats Hand Drive Fourth Straight Loss - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Use Big Fly for 4-0 Win to Go over .500 for First Time - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Hart Named Orioles' Minor League Pitcher of the Month - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws to Play Double-Headers on June 16 & 17 against Delmarva - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- WV Power Game Notes: June 5, 2015 at Rome - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Intimidators receive two from Extended Spring - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Legends Win on Balk in 13th, 3-2 - Lexington Legends
- "Rally" Dogs Bite Tourists Late - Asheville Tourists
- GreenJackets Fall in the Thirteenth Inning - Augusta GreenJackets
- Bats Back Wiles in Crawdads' 8-3 Win - Hickory Crawdads
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