Missed Chances Lead to Opener Loss
Published on April 7, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Greenville, SC - If the Augusta GreenJackets season opening game against the Greenville Drive on Thursday night were a beauty pageant contestant, it would be Miss Congeniality - because it certainly wasn't pretty on either side. Greenville won 12-6 at Fluor Field despite committing six errors in a game that also saw multiple walks and hit batsmen on both sides.
The trouble started early for Augusta starter Justin Schumer (0-1), who retired the first four hitters of the game before walking Christian Vazquez in the second. Brandon Jacobs made Schumer pay by depositing a fastball over the wall in right-center to put the Drive up 2-0 on Greenville's first hit of the night. Brandon Jacobs followed with a home run of his own - this time to left-center - to put the Drive up by three.
Augusta got a run back in the next half inning on a fielder's choice play and had its best chance to tie the game with two outs. With 2009 South Atlantic League RBI leader Josh Mazzola at the plate with two men on base, Mazzola flew out to end the inning. That was as close as Augusta would get, as Greenville exploded for six runs in the fourth to send Schumer to an early shower. Jacobs singled in a run, Sean Coyle doubled home another and Bryce Brentz provided the big blow with a grand slam that ended Schumer's night with the GreenJackets trailing 9-1 at that point.
Greenville's six errors led to four unearned GreenJackets runs. Three of those came in the sixth to cut the Drive lead to five runs, but the Jackets would get no closer.
Offensively, Augusta's best highlight came when Mazzola's first hit as a GreenJacket since 2009 left the park for a solo home run in the ninth inning. On the mound, Gasper Santiago struck out four in a 1.2 inning relief stint - an appearance that saw him strand the bases full in the seventh inning.
Manny Rivera (1-0) settled down after some early inconsistency to deliver five smooth innings for the Drive in the victory. He allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out a pair.
The GreenJackets and Drive meet Friday night for game two of the series at Fluor Field. Mario Rodriguez takes the hill for Augusta while Greenville will hand the ball to Kyle Stroup. First pitch will come at 7:05 with the pregame action beginning at 6:50 on www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Single-game and Season 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 April 7, 2011
- Drive Win 12-6 On Opening Day - Greenville Drive
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- 'Dads Win 2011 Opener Over Asheville, 4-2 - Hickory Crawdads
- Legends Drop Opener To Charleston, 6-1 - Lexington Legends
- Machado Delivers In Shorebirds Opening Night Win, 2-1 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power Open Season With 8-0 Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Missed Chances Lead to Opener Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- BlueClaws Shutout Kannapolis 2-0 on Opening Day - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- R'Dogs Crash Legends Opening Night Party, 6-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, April 7 at West Virginia - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Intimidators Season Begins Tonight in Lakewood - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Game Notes: Vs. Greenboro Grasshoppers - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Single Game Tickets on Sale Friday - Hagerstown Suns
- RiverDogs to Start 2011 Home Slate with Nine-Game Homestand - Charleston RiverDogs
- See Former ACC QBs Parker and Wilson Take on the 'Dads All Weekend - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Release 2011 Opening Night Roster - Delmarva Shorebirds
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