Late Homers Provide Insurance in Santiago Gem
Published on July 4, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Charleston, SC - The Augusta GreenJackets have needed a "slumpbuster" more than a college frat boy in a dating slump and like they've done so many times this year, the Charleston RiverDogs were willing to play the role. The GreenJackets got six brilliant innings from Gaspar Santiago and a pair of late home runs to help their lead hold up in a 5-2 win over the RiverDogs on Independence Day, Augusta's ninth win in 12 meetings between the two teams.
Gaspar Santiago was masterful for the GreenJackets, a winner in back-to-back starts. Santiago (3-3) fired six scoreless innings of one-hit baseball, walking one and striking out a pair. He faced just two over the minimum in his second win as a starter.
With the GreenJackets leading 3-0 in the seventh, Charleston threatened to tie the game after loading the bases with no one out. A groundout provided their first run of the night while Kelvin DeLeon's one-out RBI single cut the lead to two and put runners at the corners for the RiverDogs. Mario Rodriguez induced a double play ball after that to get out of the inning and preserve Augusta's one-run lead.
The GreenJackets added late padding to that lead on a pair of solo home runs. Josh Mazzola hit his seventh of the year on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the eighth inning to push the lead to two while Joel Weeks's line drive shot cleared the wall in right in the ninth to give Augusta a 5-2 edge.
Stephen Harrold loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a pair of walks and a single in the bottom of the ninth. Harrold recovered to strike out Anderson Feliz - Harrold's second strikeout victim of the inning - to preserve the win for Santiago and earn his 13th save of the season.
Augusta jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the second and once in the third. The GreenJackets benefitted from a pair of RiverDogs errors in the second to get their pair of runs there. Ryan Scoma got an RBI single to put the GreenJackets on the board while a Weeks groundout brought home the second run. Mazzola hit an RBI double in the third to bring in a third run on a ball that came within two feel of leaving the ballpark.
Steve Evarts (0-2) was the biggest victim of the two RiverDogs errors in the second as he threw well in the losing effort. Evarts fired six innings and allowed three runs - one earned - on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out two.
Shawn Sanford (4-6, 2.80) will take the mound for the GreenJackets on Tuesday night as Augusta looks for their second win in a row. Zach Nuding (5-5, 4.60) will oppose for the RiverDogs in the second game of the series. First pitch will come at 7:05 p.m. from Charleston with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50, airing on WRDW-AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
Single-game tickets are currently available 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 July 4, 2011
- Independence Day Walk-Off Win for BlueClaws - Hagerstown Suns
- BlueClaws Walk off 3-2 on July 4th - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Power Miscues Help Legends Get Comeback Win, 5-4 - Lexington Legends
- Greenville Pounds Asheville 7-3 - Asheville Tourists
- 5,225 Fans Pack L.P. Frans, 'Dads Top Delmarva, 9-2 - Hickory Crawdads
- Cordero Delivers 10th Straight Win in 10th Inning on Fourth - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Santiago Excellent as Augusta Downs Charleston, 5-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Crawdads Cruise to 9-2 Win Over Shorebirds - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Late Homers Provide Insurance in Santiago Gem - Augusta GreenJackets
- Gnats Game Notes: Monday, July 4th Vs. Rome - 6:05 Pm - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Jakob Dalfonso to DL - Rome Emperors
- Phillies RHP Brad Lidge Scheduled to Pitch Tonight for Lakewood - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Intimidators Gain Independence from Double Play Tyranny with 13-Inning Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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