Jackets End Regular Season with Win over Tourists
Published on September 1, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Asheville, NC - The Augusta GreenJackets (41-28, 47-22) won the rubber game of a three game series against the Asheville Tourists (46-24, 37-32) on Monday by the score of 3-1 to finish up the regular season. Nick Noonan homered in the game for Augusta's eighth straight game with a home run and Wilmin Rodriguez recorded the win in relief.
The score was locked in 1-1 tie until the seventh inning when Augusta scored two runs for a 3-1 advantage. With runners on second and third Dom Duggan connected for a two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield.
On the play shortstop Everth Cabrera got to the ball and tried to throw to first but threw off target. First baseman Bo Bowman received the ball then threw home to try to get James Simmons trying to score from second and Simmons ran over the catcher knocking the ball loose to give Augusta a 3-1 lead.
Rodriguez (2-1) worked three innings of shutout baseball in relief allowing one hit, a walk and striking out one in the win.
Andrew De La Garza recorded his ninth save of the season working a perfect ninth inning recording a strikeout.
Augusta took the early lead in the first inning on a two-out solo homer from Noonan over the 46 foot high wall in right-field, his ninth home run of the season.
The Tourists tied the game in the third inning when Cabrera led off the inning with a triple then scored on an RBI ground out from Michael Mitchell.
Buster Lussier got the start for Augusta, his first since 2005, and worked four innings allowing the one run on six hits for the no-decision. Lussier walked one and struck out three.
The GreenJackets and Tourists both will have an off day on Tuesday then open the 2008 South Atlantic League Southern Division Series on Wednesday, September 3 at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta, GA.
Augusta will send left-hander Madison Bumgarner (15-3, 1.46) to the mound in Game 1 of the series. The Tourists will send right-hander Connor Graham (12-6, 2.26) to the hill. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00 p.m.
Game Notes:
The GreenJackets finished 40-28 on the road this season.
Augusta finished the regular season 88-50 (.638), the best winning percentage in Minor League Baseball among all full season teams.
Mixon worked a scoreless eighth inning in relief for Augusta walking one and striking out two.
Dayton Buller finished 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Augusta has 15 home runs over the past eight games setting a season high mark for home runs in consecutive games.
The last time Augusta and Asheville met in the postseason was in 2001. The Tourists won the series capturing the SAL Southern Division Title.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 1, 2008
- Tourists Drop Regular Season Finale 3-1 - Asheville Tourists
- Suns Fall In Season Finale 12-8 - Hagerstown Suns
- Jackets End Regular Season with Win over Tourists - Augusta GreenJackets
- Taylor Becomes Legends Career Hits Leader - Lexington Legends
- BlueClaws close season with 2-1 loss at Delmarva - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Shorebirds win 78th of season - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Captains Win Final Regular Season Game - Lake County Captains
- All Good Things Must Come to an End - Hickory Crawdads
- Legends Fall in Dramatic Fashion in Season Finale - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Close Out 2008 Season with Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Drive Fall 8-2 to Crawdads in Season Finale - Greenville Drive
- Intimidators Finish Season With 4-3 Loss To Power - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Hoppers Walk Off With Win, Again - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Power Finish Regular Season with a Walk Off Victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Catfish Catch Braves - Rome Emperors
- Taylor Breaks All-Time Hits Mark - Lexington Legends
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