Joseph's Ninth Inning Double Leads to Augusta Sweep
Published on August 16, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Rome, GA - After the Augusta GreenJackets blew a six-run lead with nine outs to go on Monday night, Tommy Joseph's two-run double saved the day for the GreenJackets in an 8-7 win over the Rome Braves. The Jackets swept the Braves in five games and have now won five in a row and seven of their last eight.
Ryan Cavan walked with one out in the ninth inning before the go-ahead double from Joseph hit off the wall in left-center. In the bottom of the ninth the Braves put a valiant rally together before falling short. Robert Hefflinger singled to open the inning off Jose Valdez before the Jackets righty got two quick outs. Valdez issued back-to-back walks to load the bases before striking out Bobby Rauh with a called third strike on a devastating curveball to seal the win and Valdez's first save of the season. He becomes the 11th different GreenJacket to record a save this season.
For the first time all series the Braves scored first, getting an RBI single from Riaan Spanjer-Furstenberg in the first inning to go up 1-0. Augusta tied the game in the fourth on a Luke Anders RBI single and took a one-run lead in the fifth on Skyler Stromsmoe's sacrifice fly.
Augusta appeared to blow things open in the seventh with five runs on five hits. Cavan had a sacrifice fly, Chris Dominguez provided an RBI single, while the Jackets got RBI doubles from Joseph and Hector Sanchez. With a six-run deficit, the Braves clawed back with three runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth. Matt Weaver doubled home two and Joe Leonard singled home another in the seventh while Joe Terdoslavich singled home one in the eighth and Weaver singled home two more to tie things at seven before the Augusta heroics in the ninth.
Jose Casilla (4-1) allowed the tying runs in the ninth, but held on for the win while Kyle Mertins (0-2) takes his second loss of the series for the Braves.
The GreenJackets are now just two games out of a first place tie involving Asheville and Greenville after the Tourists rallied to defeat the Drive 4-2 in the ninth inning on Monday night. They've already clinched a winning road trip as the Jackets head to Savannah to open up a four-game set with the Sand Gnats. Chris Heston (4-11, 4.15) takes the ball in the opener and will face Armando Rodriguez (6-8, 3.51). First pitch from Savannah will come at 7:05 p.m. with the pregame action beginning at 6:50 p.m. on WRDW AM 1630, www.greenjacketsbaseball.com and www.wrdwam.com .
Fans can purchase seats to all home games 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 16, 2010
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