Greenville Slips Past Augusta Late; 4-3 Bullpen Proves Shaky in 4-3 Setback
April 21, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Greenville, SC - For four straight innings, the Greenville Drive had the tying run in scoring position and couldn't crack through against the Augusta GreenJackets. The fifth time proved to be the charm though as the Drive scored twice in the eighth inning to overcome the GreenJackets and defeat Augusta 4-3.
With the GreenJackets clinging to a one-run lead, an error in the Greenville eighth put the tying run on base for the Drive. After a one-out walk, Henry Ramos's double to right-center scored the tying and go-ahead runs for Greenville to give the Drive their first lead of the night at 4-3. Justin Erasmus came out of the Drive bullpen to retire the side in the ninth and earn his second save of the season.
The GreenJackets drew first blood in the game for the third straight night, scoring all three of their runs in the first inning. After Kelby Tomlinson's leadoff single, Shawn Payne unloaded a drive to left for his first home run of the year - a two-run shot that put Augusta out to a 2-0 lead. Jose Cuevas followed with a double, took third on a wild pitch and then scored on the game's first out - a Ben Thomas RBI groundout - to extend Augusta's lead to 3-0.
GreenJackets starter Kyle Crick dominated early on, firing two perfect innings at the outset of his start before running into trouble in the fourth. A walk and a single put two men on base and a passed ball moved them into scoring position where the Drive got a run on David Renfroe's RBI groundout to get on the scoreboard. Later in the inning, Keury De la Cruz beat out a double play ball at first base to extend the fourth and allow a second man to score and cut Augusta's lead to 3-2.
Though Crick would depart in the fifth, the fourth inning started a stretch of five consecutive innings where the Drive put the would-be tying run in scoring position until they finally broke through to tie the game in the eighth. Crick fired 4.1 innings and allowed two runs - one earned - on two hits and four walks while striking out five. The 4.1 innings are a career-long for Crick and his five strikeouts are also a career-high.
In the fifth, the Drive stranded the tying run at third with two outs. They left the tying run at second in the sixth and in the seventh, the would-be tying run was thrown out at the plate by Payne to end the inning before Greenville finally broke through in the eighth. Augusta had been trying all game long to extend their lead past 3-0 and eventually 3-2, but wasted their own opportunities. In addition, the running game failed them for the second straight night as one GreenJacket was caught stealing and another picked off.
Matty Ott (2-1) allowed three hits and a pair of walks in three scoreless innings of relief to get the win for the Drive. Adalberto Mejia (1-3) allowed a pair of runs in the ninth - just one of which was earned - and was tagged for the loss.
The GreenJackets will head into Sunday's series and road trip finale with the chance to take three of four from the Drive still intact. Joseph Biagini (0-1, 7.50) will get the ball for Augusta and will face Greenville's Henry Owens (1-1, 11.81). First pitch comes at 4:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 3:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1340 AM and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
The GreenJackets return home to open a seven-game homestand on Tuesday April 24th against the Kannapolis Intimidators at 7:05 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m.
Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 21, 2012
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- Ramos' Double Gives Drive 4-3 Edge Over GreenJackets - Greenville Drive
- Greenville Slips Past Augusta Late; 4-3 Bullpen Proves Shaky in 4-3 Setback - Augusta GreenJackets
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