Jackets Win SAL Second-Half Southern Division Title
Published on August 28, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets (41-28, 44-21) punched their ticket to the post-season with a 5-1 win over the Hickory Crawdads (30-40, 20-45) on Thursday to win the South Atlantic League Second-Half Southern Division Title. Starter Oliver Odle worked eight innings for the win and Dayton Buller homered and drove in three runs to lead the offense.
Augusta scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. With two outs in the inning, Andrew Davis connected for a base hit then Buller followed with an RBI triple. James Simmons followed with an RBI single to right field.
The Crawdads got on the board in the fourth inning on a two-out solo homer by Tom Hagan to pull within one.
That was Odle's (10-7) only mistake as the right-hander matched a career high with eight innings thrown. Odle allowed five hits, no walks and struck out seven.
The GreenJackets scored three times in the sixth inning to take a 5-1 lead. With two outs in the inning Buller connected for a two-run homer then after Simmons singled Shane Jordan followed with an RBI triple to increase the lead by four runs.
Andrew De La Garza pitched a perfect ninth inning to lock down the win and the series.
The GreenJackets and Crawdads finish up their series on Friday night as the GreenJackets play their final regular season home game looking for the three game sweep. Augusta sends left-hander Scott Barnes (2-2, 1.35) to the mound while the Crawdads counter with lefty Charles Benoit (0-2, 6.51). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Game Notes:
The GreenJackets improved to 47-22 at home this season, 27-7 since the All-Star Break.
Augusta improved to a season high 36 games over the .500 mark.
The GreenJackets made the playoffs for a third consecutive year
Shane Jordan has hit safely in a career high 10 straight games.
Augusta has 10 home runs over the past four games, Buller has three of them.
Augusta opens the post-season with Game 1 of the SAL Southern Division Series on September 3
The GreenJackets paid attendance was 3,729 for a franchise high of 195,229 for the season.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 28, 2008
- Suns lose pitcher's duel - Hagerstown Suns
- Dogs Bite Braves - Rome Emperors
- Captains Drop Two to Delmarva - Lake County Captains
- Tourists Rack Up 16 Hits in 11-1 Win Over Drive - Greenville Drive
- Power rained out - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Birthday Blasts Lead Hoppers Past Lexington - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Legends Lose Big, 13-2 - Lexington Legends
- Stutes pitches BlueClaws to 2-1 win over Hagerstown - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Crawdads offense stagnant in loss - Hickory Crawdads
- Jackets Win SAL Second-Half Southern Division Title - Augusta GreenJackets
- Birds sweep double header - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws reach 400,000 fans for eighth straight season - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- GreenJackets Set to Break 200,000 in Attendance - Augusta GreenJackets
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