Harris Drives GreenJackets to Shutout Win
August 28, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Greenville, SC - Devin Harris drove home three runs as part of a four-hit day as the Augusta GreenJackets pounded out 14 hits and got a big game from starting pitcher Mario Rodriguez in a 7-0 win over the Greenville Drive on Sunday afternoon.
Harris started things for Augusta in the first inning, driving home a run with two outs to put the GreenJackets on the board first for the second straight night. Ryan Scoma followed with a run-scoring single and Raynor Campbell backed that with an RBI double to push the lead to 3-0 in the first. Harris again struck in the fifth with a solo home run to left - his 14th of the year - to give the GreenJackets a four-run lead. In the fifth, Ryan Lollis and Harris hit back-to-back one-out doubles to give the GreenJackets a 5-0 lead.
Rodriguez took care of the rest through six masterful innings on the hill for Augusta. The lefty faced the minimum number of hitters, as the one hit and one walk he allowed were negated by a caught stealing play and a double play later in the inning. Rodriguez (8-5) fired six scoreless innings to win his first as a starter, striking out three.
Joel Weeks singled home two runs in the eighth to put the icing on a 7-0 win in a game where every starter but one had a base hit.
Keith Couch, who entered the game with the league's fifth-best ERA, was rocked in 4.1 innings on the mound for the Drive. Couch (6-5) allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out three.
Gaspar Santiago allowed two hits over the final three innings to preserve the shutout and earn his first save of the season, striking out four in the process.
The GreenJackets picked up just their sixth shutout win of the season - a boost to the team with the worst winning percentage in the league in shutout games. Augusta has been shutout a league-high 13 times this season. The win, coupled with Savannah's loss earlier today, moves the GreenJackets into sole possession of second place. Augusta sits one game behind the division-leading Sand Gnats with seven left to play.
In the third game of the series on Monday, Shawn Sanford (9-9, 2.61) gets the ball for the GreenJackets to face fellow righty Miguel Celestino (9-5, 3.96) with the chance to even the series at two games apiece. First pitch from Greenville comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50, airing on WRDW-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 August 28, 2011
- Braves and Intimidators Split Twinbill - Rome Emperors
- Drive Blanked by GreenJackets, 7-0 - Greenville Drive
- Harris Drives GreenJackets to Shutout Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Pitching, Homers Lead Greensboro to 6-0 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Dogs Swat Gnats 5-1 Sunday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Tourists Put Pedal on Floor, Roll Past Suns 15-5 - Hagerstown Suns
- West Virginia Shuts out Legends, 9-0 - Lexington Legends
- Power Bats, Arms Earn 9-0 Victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Nuno Nullifies Savannah Sticks in 5-1 'Dogs Victory - Charleston RiverDogs
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Gnats Game Notes: Sunday, August 28 Vs. Charleston - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Final Homestand Sends 2011 Season out with a Bang - Charleston RiverDogs
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