Jackets Weather Storm for 5-4 Win
Published on June 11, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Charleston, SC - The Augusta GreenJackets survived a lengthy rain delay and two bench clearing incidents in the ninth inning to pull off a wild, wooly 5-4 win over the first place Charleston RiverDogs, taking two of three from the âDogs.
Josh Mazzola's two-run home run in the seventh inning on a 2-2 pitch from Cory Arbiso (1-5) gave the GreenJackets their only lead of the game on what would be their last base hit.
The Jackets fell behind 4-0 through two innings thanks largely to four Augusta errors. Their comeback began in the third when the GreenJackets loaded the bases for Juan Perez. The All-Star delivered a two-run single to cut Charleston's lead in half. An inning later, Vladimir Frias singled with two outs and stole second. Ben Woodbury's RBI single scored Frias to pull the Jackets to within a run.
With Perez at bat in the fifth, heavy winds sent the fans scurrying for cover at Joseph P. Riley Park. After Perez's groundout, the winds and threat of severe weather delayed the game for an hour and 40 minutes until it resumed at 10:10 p.m.
When play resumed Kyle Woodruff kept the Charleston bats at bay until the GreenJackets bats could dent the scoreboard. Woodruff (1-0) tossed three scoreless innings of three-hit baseball with a pair of strikeouts. The Jackets threatened in the sixth, stranding a pair of runners before Mazzola's blast gave the Jackets the lead in the seventh.
In the ninth, benches and bullpens cleared after the second out when Taylor Grote slid hard into Vladimir Frias at second base. Umpires and coaches quickly restored order. After Jose Pirela bounced out to end the game, he had words with first baseman Mike Loberg and umpires again had to work with both coaching staffs to separate the teams.
Edwin Quirarte threw two scoreless innings of one-hit baseball to pick up his second save of the season. He walked one and struck out one.
The win also leaves manager Dave Machemer just two wins shy of 1,300 in his illustrious minor league managerial career. The GreenJackets travel to Savannah to begin a three-game series with the Sand Gnats as the back half of their final first half road trip. Ari Ronick (3-3, 3.33) takes the ball for Augusta to face Chris Schwinden (3-3, 4.06). First pitch from Charleston comes at 7:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on WRDW AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
The GreenJackets return home on Monday to open up their final homestand of the first half with a 7:05 p.m. contest with the RiverDogs. You may purchase seats by calling 706-922-WINS or online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 11, 2009
- Crawdads Fall in Opener in West Virginia - Hickory Crawdads
- Owens Own Crawdads - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Jackets Weather Storm for 5-4 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Augusta Comes Back to Weather Charleston - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Take Series with 3-2 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Gentile Accounts for Drive's Lone Run in 5-1 Loss - Greenville Drive
- Fog, BlueClaws Beat Suns - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Fog Hides Sun in Lakewood - Hagerstown Suns
- Tourists Continue Winning Ways - Asheville Tourists
- Legends-Hot Rods Game Suspended - Lexington Legends
- Hot Rods and Legends Suspended on Thursday Night - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Rain Washes Out Hoppers - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Rain Spoils Evening in Greensboro - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- NJ Irish Festival Saturday at FirstEnergy Park - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Suns Win Battle Of Bullpens In 11th Against Lakewood - Hagerstown Suns
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