
GreenJackets Split Twin Bill with Fireflies
August 27, 2024 - Carolina League (CarL)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: The GreenJackets won handedly in the opener of the day, but came up just short in the finale as they split a series-opening doubleheader with the Columbia Fireflies.
Game one of the day was a continuation of a suspended game that had been called due to rain back on July 6th. At the time of the postponement, Augusta had led 6-0 in the 4th inning, setting the stage nicely to start the long day of baseball. Harry Owen added a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 4th upon resumption, and neither side scored again in an 8-0 thrashing to start the week. Garrett Baumann pitched all 5.2 innings of today's game and did not allow a run, combining with Ian Anderson for the shutout stretched across 52 days.
The nightcap proved a bit more complicated, with both sides leaving the door open for the opposition and going back and forth for all seven innings. Starters Jacob Kroeger and Mauricio Veliz each battled command problems, leading to runs in the 4th. Columbia scored once on a wild pitch with the bases loaded, while Augusta used a walk from Will Verdung, two-run single from Jake Steels, and fielder's choice off the bat of Mason Guerra to take a 4-1 lead.
Kroeger would depart after the 2nd, and Veliz after the 3rd, putting the bullpens to work early and often. The Fireflies found a crack against Juan Sanchez when his command began to falter in the 4th, and scored twice to bring themselves within a run. A single and two walks loaded the bags, and a sac fly and subsequent free passes ended Sanchez's evening. Hayder Ortiz came on to strand the bags full, and not a moment too soon.
Ortiz faltered in the 5th, continuing a concerning trend of GreenJacket relievers who strand runners on when inherited but can't replicate success in clean innings. A hit by pitch and single set the table with one out set the stage, and Erick Torres put Columbia in front with a two-run double into the left field corner. Augusta put two on with two out in the bottom half, but Mason Guerra was cut down trying to score on Alen Pineda's first hit of the year to keep the Fireflies in front.
Both sides would trade runs in the 6th, as Austin Charles hammered a solo homer to left, and Titus Dumitru cranked a sacrifice fly to the fence to bring home an answering run. Augusta put the tying run at third on a single, steal, and groundout, but Pineda flew out to right field to end the game and give Firefly closer Elvis Novas his 8th save.
This week marks the final homestand of the 2024 season for the GreenJackets, with 5 game still to play. Augusta has not announced the starting pitchers for the rest of the week, but off-the-field highlights include jersey auctions, Taylor Swift Night, and Fan Appreciation Night.
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Carolina League Stories from August 27, 2024
- Ballers Fall in Strong Unanswered Offense Effort from Nationals - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Dowd Dominates and Offense Impresses as RiverDogs Beat Fayetteville 7-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Freddies Rally from Five Down to Beat Ballers - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Pelicans Drop Both Games of Tuesday's Doubleheader against Wood Ducks - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Woodpeckers Can't Solve RiverDogs' Pitching, Drop Fifth Straight - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Fireflies Rally for Doubleheader Split - Columbia Fireflies
- GreenJackets Split Twin Bill with Fireflies - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Open Final Homestand with Win Over Red Sox - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Solid Start Lifts Mudcats Past Lynchburg - Carolina Mudcats
- Hillcats Fall, 3-2, to Mudcats - Lynchburg Hillcats
- RiverDogs Add Rays First-Round Pick to Roster - Charleston RiverDogs
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Augusta 8.27 - Columbia Fireflies
- Sanchez and Rodriguez to Wisconsin; Molina, Seppings, Hernandez and Hardin Added from ACL Brewers and Knoth to 7-Day IL - Carolina Mudcats
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