GreenJackets Run Out of Gas in 6-1 Setback
Published on September 4, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - One night after the Augusta GreenJackets outlasted the Rome Braves in 16 innings, the magic was gone for the GreenJackets. Rome starter Aaron Northcraft limited Augusta to just three hits as the Braves took their second win of the series from the GreenJackets when Augusta fell 6-1 on Sunday evening.
Rome struck first and took a third-inning lead, picking up four hits off Shawn Sanford. After Kyle Rose's leadoff triple, Matt Lipka's sacrifice fly put the Braves on the board. With two outs, Chris Garcia singled home another run to push the edge to two.
The GreenJackets struck back in the fourth, getting a Chris Lofton single to lead off the fourth. With one out, Adam Duvall doubled home Lofton to cut the Rome lead in half. Duvall, however, was stranded in scoring position and the GreenJackets never again had the chance to tie the game.
In the fifth, two errors led to an unearned run off Sanford and the Braves jumped out to a 3-1 lead. They added another in the sixth on Lipka's RBI groundout and two more in the eighth on a pair of errors to go ahead by five.
Sanford (10-10) gave his all through six innings for the GreenJackets, but it wasn't enough. Pitching with a depleted bullpen behind him because of Saturday night's game, Sanford allowed four runs - three earned - on 11 hits (a season-high) while walking one and striking out four.
Northcraft (7-8) was masterful for Rome in an effort the Braves badly needed to save their own weary bullpen. He fired seven innings of one-run ball on three hits and a walk, striking out a season-high nine.
The GreenJackets had no hits and just three baserunners after the fourth inning as Rome retired the side in order five times in the contest.
With the loss, and Savannah's rainout in Lexington, the GreenJackets fall to 1.5 games out of first place entering play on Monday - the final day of the South Atlantic League regular season. Greenville's win in Hickory moves them into a tie with Augusta for second place in the division while the Asheville Tourists are eliminated due to their loss in Charleston. For the GreenJackets to win the division, Augusta needs a Lexington sweep of Savannah, a win, and a Greenville loss to win the second-half division crown outright.
Taylor Rogers (11-10, 2.93) gets the ball for the GreenJackets in their regular season finale on Monday to face Ronan Pacheco (5-8, 5.14). First pitch comes at 2:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 1:50, airing on WDRW-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 4, 2011
- Suns Swat Back-To-Back Jacks, Topple BlueClaws, 4-2 - Hagerstown Suns
- BlueClaws Drop 3rd Straight to Hagerstown - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Crush Crawdads, 10-5 - Greenville Drive
- GreenJackets Run Out of Gas in 6-1 Setback - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Race Past 'Dads on Sunday - Hickory Crawdads
- Hoppers Homers Hamper Hopes for Playoffs - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Home Runs Not Enough as Shorebirds Fall, 6-2 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Greene Grabs Win as 'Dogs Torment Tourists - Charleston RiverDogs
- Legends-Sand Gnats Game Rained Out; Doubleheader Monday - Lexington Legends
- Rome Makes Roster Moves - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Game Notes: Sunday, September 4 at Lexington - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Bases-Loaded Walk Ends Marathon Win - Augusta GreenJackets
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