Late Rallies Fall Short in 4-3 Loss
Published on June 17, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - The Greenville Drive took their first lead of Sunday's game against the Augusta GreenJackets on a sixth-inning home run from Henry Ramos and held on for a 4-3 win in the first-half finale for both teams.
With the game tied at three in the sixth, Ramos drilled a solo home run - his fourth of the season - off Derek Law (5-1) to put the Drive ahead 4-3. The GreenJackets had runners on in each of the last four innings in attempts to tie the game or retake the lead. Shawn Payne's leadoff single in the sixth was negated by a double play ball. In the seventh, Jose Flores singled and stole second but was stranded there to end the inning. Kelby Tomlinson singled with one out in the eighth, but was thrown out trying to steal second. Later in that inning, Payne walked and stole second but was stranded there as well.
In the ninth, the GreenJackets put together a two-out rally against Tyler Lockwood. Jose Cuevas walked and Jeff Arnold singled to put the tying run at second and the winning run at first. Brett Krill worked the count deep against Lockwood, fouling off several pitches, but grounded out on a 2-2 offering to end the game. Lockwood held on to seal Greenville's second straight win and earn his sixth save of the year in the process.
In all five games of the series, the team that scored first ended up as the losing team. Augusta continued the trend today with three runs in the second inning. An error opened the door to leadoff the inning and with one out, the GreenJackets got three straight hits to take a three-run lead. Jose Cuevas doubled home a run and Jeff Arnold singled home two more to give Augusta a 3-0 second-inning lead.
Greenville got on the board in the third on David Renfroe's RBI groundout before tying the game in the fifth on a two-run home run by major league rehabber Jason Repko - his fourth hit of the series and second for extra bases.
Drive starter Luis Diaz (1-3) benefitted from the Ramos home run, holding on to win his first game of the year. He fired five innings and allowed three runs - two earned - on five hits.
Despite the loss, the GreenJackets finished a 5-3 homestand - their best of the year - and with wins in ten of their last 14 games. They finish the first half with a 32-37 record - a better mark than the 2011 GreenJackets posted in the first half.
The GreenJackets open the second half on Thursday in Savannah, opening a four-game series with the Sand Gnats. First pitch from Savannah comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1340 AM and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
The GreenJackets return home on Monday June 25th to open their longest homestand of the year with the first of a four-game series against the Asheville Tourists. Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 17, 2012
- RiverDogs Can't Solve Hodges in First Half Finale - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Lose First Half Finale, 4-3 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Sand Gnats Complete Four Game Sweep - Rome Emperors
- Late Rallies Fall Short in 4-3 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power Take First Half Finale 5-3 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- First-Rounders Shine in First Half Finale - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends Shut out Tourists 2-0 to End First Half of Season - Lexington Legends
- Drive Conclude First Half with 4-3 Win - Greenville Drive
- 'Claws Beat 'Dads 6-1 on Father's Day - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- 'Dads Fall in First-Half Finale in Lakewood - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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