GreenJackets Fight and Claw to Victory A Six Run Comeback
June 18, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Wednesday night the Augusta GreenJackets (32-33) and the Lexington Legends (29-37) took to the field at Lake Olmstead Stadium on a very warm night in Augusta. As the guests of Lake Olmstead Stadium did their best to stay cool on the field, it was each club's bats that sizzled more than the sidewalk surrounding the stadium. The GreenJackets found themselves in a six run hole by the end of the fourth inning. From the sixth inning on the GreenJackets posted six runs to push the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the eleventh inning Jared Deacon singled home Johneshwy Fargas for the game winning run.
On back-to-back nights the Legends were able to put a run on the scoreboard during the first inning. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado plated the first run of the game from third base when Elier Hernandez grounded into a five-four force out. GreenJackets starting pitcher Chris Johnson ended the bottom of the first inning by freezing Wander Franco for a called strike three.
The GreenJackets bounced back in the bottom of the first inning after a single by Cristian Paulino. Pauino who is batting .294 has now recorded a hit in his last three games. Paulino moved his way to third base after snagging his 18th and 19th stole bases of the year. Jonah Arenado drove a hard hit ball to left field to score Paulino to tie the game at one run apiece.
The Legends took advantage of an early inning error from third baseman Jonah Arenado when Humberto Arteaga scored on a RBI ground out from Elier Hernandez. Next batter Wander Franco hit his 14th double of the year to score Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado to put the Legends ahead two runs of the GreenJackets at the end of the third inning.
The bats continued in the top of the fourth inning as the Legends began to pour on the runs over the GreenJackets. With runners on second and third bases and one out, Humberto Arteaga tripled for the first two runs of the inning for the Legends. A batter later, Ryan O'Hearn hit a line drive home run over that crashed into the upper right field wall that stand above the home run line. The home run was O'Hearn's 16th round tripper of the year and increased the Legends lead to seven to one.
Down seven runs with their playoff hopes on the line the Augusta GreenJackets had no choice but to stand up and fight back. Just like any dangerous animal backed into a corner, the GreenJackets came out with their claws out and in attack mode.
Aramis Garcia led the charge for the GreenJackets by absolutely man handling a pitch from Torey Deshazier for a solo shot home run. The home run was Garcia's sixth of the year. Arenado and Ewing followed with singles of his own. After a ground out and first baseman Ryan O'Hearn missing a catchable ball the bases were loaded as Will Callaway stepped to the plate. Yunior Marte must have been feeling the Georgia heat because he let a slip out of his hands and land against the backstop. Jonah Arenado made the dash for home plate to score the third run of the game for the GreenJackets. Callaway added another run by plating Skyler Ewing on a single to center field, the RBI was Callaway's 20th of the year. The GreenJackets would end of the bottom of the sixth with a score of seven to four still in favor of the Legends.
In the eighth inning the GreenJackets struck again to tighten the Legends lead to two runs. Arenado who had a day at the plate by going five for five with three RBIs led the inning off with his twelfth double of the year. Arenado was able to advance to third base on a balk from Legends pitcher Yunior Marte. First baseman Skyler Ewing who has been swinging a hot bat as of late, hit into a five-three RBI ground out to score Arenado. Ewing has now posted 17th RBIs on the year.
Throughout the first half the season, the GreenJackets have fought themselves back into games, particularly when they are down to their last out. With two outs and Ryan Jones standing on first base the odds were stacked against the GreenJackets as their last ditch effort for a first half SAL League Southern Division crown looked to be slipping through their grasps. But, two straight batters reached on being hit by a pitch from Yunior Marte. Those HBPs loaded the bases for the GreenJackets. As the dugout started to breathe life, guests in the stands could feel the momentum start to swing in the GreenJackets favor as Jonah Arenado stepped to the plate. As if it was being played out straight from a script, Arenado hit a line drive single to center field to score Cristain Paulino and Ryan Jones to tie the game at seven all and send the game into extra innings.
Relief pitcher Carlos Diaz was called upon from the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth and extra innings to help keep the Legends at bay while the GreenJackets were in the field. Diaz answered Rojas's call by pitching two and two thirds innings, allowing one hit and striking out four batters. Diaz accomplished what any relief pitcher hopes to do in extra innings, just give his team a chance to win the game.
After the GreenJackets offense was denied the sweet taste of a walk-off victory in the bottom of the tenth inning, they were hungry to accomplish their goal in the bottom of the eleventh.
Moments after Ryan Jones lined out to start the bottom of the eleveth inning, right-handed pitcher Jake Newberry replaced Yunior Marte on the mound. Newberry's first batter was lead off man Johneshwy Fargas, Fargas hit a high chopping ball to shortstop Humberto Arteaga, with Fargas's speed being a factor, it forced Humberto to make the quick throw that pulled first baseman Ryan O'Hearn off the bag. With Fargas standing safely at first base, Cristian Paulino came to the plate. During a tough at bat, Paulino hit a slow ground ball off the end of his bat to first base, the ground ball proved in the end to be useful since it moved Fargas into scoring position.
Jared Deacon replaced catcher Aramis Garcia in the top of the tenth inning. After two innings behind the plate and the GreenJackets winning run in scoring position Deacon was set up to be the hero. Deacon who is hitting .242 on the season with four RBIs drove a single over the Legends' second baseman's head to allow Fargas to score from second base. As Deacon rounded first base and saw his teammates running towards him, a smile of relief and excitement showed across his face.
Tonight's final scoreboard line read seven runs, ten hits, and two errors for the Lexington Legends, and eight runs, thirteen hits, and one error for the Augusta GreenJackets. Carlos Diaz takes home his first victory of the year and Jake Newberry receives his second loss of 2015.
With the Wednesday night and with the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Greenville Drive both losing, the GreenJackets still find themselves living to see another day for the Southern Division crown. The GreenJackets are two and half games back of both the Sand Gnats and Drive with the Sand Gnats coming to town on Friday night.
Before the GreenJackets can even begin to start to think about Friday night and Savannah they must take care of business Thursday night against the Legends. The Legends will be looking to avenge tonight's six run blown lead loss when Foster Griffin (0-1 ERA 6.46) takes the mound against the GreenJackets. Nestor Rojas will send his big right-hander Pat Young (3-0 ERA 4.87) to lead the charge on the mound for the GreenJackets.
As the GreenJackets players and field staff put their playoff hopes on the line yet again Thursday night, all guests will be able to enjoy Thirsty Thursday at Lake Olmstead Stadium. When guests can purchase small draft beers and sodas for only one dollar all night long courtesy of Twin Peaks Restaurant and Country Club Dance Hall and Saloon. Game time will be set of 7:05pm and the gates will be opened at Lake Olmstead Stadium at 6:00pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 18, 2015
- Augusta Wins 11-6 to Take Series - Lexington Legends
- Fitting End: RiverDogs Walk-Off 4-3 in 10 Innings - Charleston RiverDogs
- Delmonicoâ??s four RBI dims Suns - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- RiverDogs Sneak past Power in 10 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns Take Two of Three from Intimidators - Hagerstown Suns
- Rome Downs Hickory 3-2 in Series Finale - Rome Emperors
- Reyes Downs Tourists on Thirsty Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Birds Take Final 6-1 to Sweep BlueClaws - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Take Down Grasshoppers, 4-3 - Greenville Drive
- Legends Welcome Heart Association, Lex Clinic and Arthur on Weekend Homestand - Lexington Legends
- Crawdads Playoff Tickets Now on Sale - Hickory Crawdads
- Augusta GreenJackets and YMCA Team up for Miracle League Night - Augusta GreenJackets
- Edgerton Added to 2015 All Star Team - Rome Emperors
- RiverDogs to Move Forward with Regularly-Scheduled Games in Wake of Local Tragedy - Charleston RiverDogs
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Tourists Servpro Box Office Upcoming Hours of Operation - Asheville Tourists
- T's Hold Gnats Scoreless for 11 Straight Innings; Win 4-2 in 13 - Asheville Tourists
- GreenJackets Fight and Claw to Victory A Six Run Comeback - Augusta GreenJackets
- Crawdads Rout Braves with 11-1 Win - Hickory Crawdads
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