Home Runs, Bullpen Intimidate Kannapolis in 9-4 Win
Published on April 24, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets got 5.1 scoreless innings of one-hit relief from Paul Davis and Scotty Walker and a pair of home runs by Jose Cuevas to pull away with a 9-4 win over the Kannapolis Intimidators in the series opener between the teams on Tuesday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
Augusta struck first with a pair of runs in the second inning. An error and a walk put two men aboard for Joe Staley, who split the gap in right-center to double home both runners and hand the GreenJackets an early 2-0 advantage. The lead didn't last long as Kannapolis tied things up in the third. Ross Wilson tripled home a run and then scored when the throw to third hit him and went away from Cuevas's reach at third to tie the game.
The GreenJackets batted around in the bottom of the third, scoring four times on six singles in the inning and taking a lead they wouldn't lose. Brett Krill and Michael Mergenthaler brought home runs on RBI singles, while Chuckie Jones and Staley added runs on a pair of groundouts. When the dust cleared, the GreenJackets led 6-2 and would never again trail.
Kannapolis pulled to within two though in the fourth inning - the frame in which they chased Augusta starter Joseph Biagini. Back-to-back hits to open the inning put runners at second and third when a wild pitch scored the Intimidators' third run. A sacrifice fly from Dusty Harvard made it a 6-4 game and ended Biagini's night. Biagini fired 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three.
In the fourth, the GreenJackets extended their lead on Cuevas's solo home run. On Cuevas's next at-bat in the sixth, he connected again for a two-run shot to become the first GreenJacket to record a multi-homer game this season and push the GreenJackets out to a 9-4 advantage.
Davis (1-0) got the last out of the fourth in relief of Biagini and retired all ten hitters he faced, striking out three to get the win. Walker retired the first four he faced before giving up a hit in the ninth that broke a string of 16 straight Intimidators retired by Biagini, Davis and Walker before Walker got the final two outs of the ballgame to seal the win.
Kannapolis starter Daniel Webb (0-3) took the loss for the Intimidators, allowing six runs - four earned - on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out three in 2.2 innings.
The GreenJackets - winners of three of their last four games - will attempt to pull back to .500 on Wednesday with Edwin Escobar (1-1, 2.16) taking the mound against Scott Snodgress (0-0, 4.70) in a pairing of lefties. First pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1340 AM 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 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 24, 2012
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- BlueClaws Score 2 Runs in 8th Inning for 10-9 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Charleston Takes Series Opener over Legends 4-1 - Lexington Legends
- Cuevas Homers Twice for GreenJackets - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Home Runs, Bullpen Intimidate Kannapolis in 9-4 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Suffer 4-2 Loss to Shorebirds After Impressive Starting Pitchers Exit - Greenville Drive
- Grasshoppers Win with a Gem in Hickory - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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