Missed Connections Prove Costly in Rubber Match
Published on August 30, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Greenville, SC - The Greenville Drive scored three times in the fifth inning to build what proved to be an insurmountable lead, defeating the Augusta GreenJackets 5-3 to take three of five games from Augusta on Tuesday night in the final road game of the regular season for the GreenJackets.
With the game tied at two in the fifth - and the bases loaded on an error, a walk, and a single - Brandon Jacobs singled home a pair to break the tie and give Greenville a 4-2 lead. A wild pitch with two outs in the inning brought home another run to drive the Greenville advantage to three.
Augusta had a fantastic chance to come back in the very next half inning, getting back-to-back hits from Chris Lofton and Joel Weeks to open the sixth inning before Ryan Lollis walked to load the bases. Devin Harris followed by grounding into a double play that cost Augusta the runner at third and the one about to score to put two outs on the board, but Ryan Scoma singled to reload the bases for Raynor Campbell with two outs. Campbell struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat on a night where Augusta stranded seven men on the bases.
The GreenJackets got a run back in the bottom of the eighth on a Harris sacrifice fly to make it a 5-3 game. Augusta brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Eliezer Zambrano opened the inning with a single. Missing from the starting lineup for the fourth straight night with a wonky back, Adam Duvall stepped up to pinch-hit as the tying run. Duvall, however, grounded into a double play and Bobby Haney was quickly retired to end the game as Michael Olmstead got out of the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season for Greenville.
Augusta struck first in this game for the fourth straight night, picking up a run in the second inning on Ryan Scoma's RBI single. Greenville tied the game in the bottom of the inning on Michael Almanzar's two-out RBI single to even things at one. The Drive took a 2-1 lead in the third on Sean Coyle's sacrifice fly before Augusta tied it back up in the fifth inning. Campbell's seventh home run of the season - a solo blast that landed on the roof of the building beyond the left field fence - evened the score at 2-2 in the fifth before the Greenville rally in the bottom of the inning.
Taylor Rogers (11-10) was hit around in one of his last starts of the season, allowing five runs - three earned - on eight hits and a walk in five innings, striking out five. The Augusta bullpen - Jose Valdez and Seth Rosin - kept the Drive at bay in three scoreless innings of two-hit ball, combining to strike out six.
Tyler Wilson (4-3) earned the win for Greenville, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in five solid innings.
The GreenJackets will have Wednesday off before returning to action on Thursday to open their final homestand - a five-game series with the Rome Braves. Mike Kickham (5-9, 4.05) takes the ball for Augusta in the series opener on the season's final Thirsty Thursday. Dollar domestic drafts and soft drinks will be available throughout the night, courtesy of The Vue Lounge and 95 Rock. First pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50, airing on WRDW-AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game 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 August 30, 2011
- Crawdads split doubleheader in Lakewood - Hickory Crawdads
- Suns Battle to Extras, Fall Short in Asheville Finale, 6-5 - Hagerstown Suns
- Gnats Beat 'Dogs 11-8 in Regular Season Home Finale - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Lakewood Splits Final Two Home Games of Regular Season - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Free Passes Foil 'Dogs Plans for Series Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Squander Lead and Fall 10-7 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Drive Swat 'Jackets 5-3 in Finale at Fluor Field - Greenville Drive
- Legends Top Power in Series Finale - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Missed Connections Prove Costly in Rubber Match - Augusta GreenJackets
- Legends Edge Power 4-2 - Lexington Legends
- Eighteen Hits Helps Kannapolis Spoil Braves' Final Home Game - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Game Notes: Tuesday, August 30 Vs. Charleston - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Legends' Emilio King named South Atlantic League Player of the Week - Lexington Legends
- Savannah Staff Sweeps South Atlantic League All-Star Team Awards - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Intimidators Playoff Tickets Now Available - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Profar Voted SAL MVP, 'Dads Have Three All-Stars - Hickory Crawdads
- Sanford, Duvall Recieve League Honors - Augusta GreenJackets
- Manzella to be Inducted into Legends Hall of Fame - Lexington Legends
- Gattis Named to SAL Annual Team - Rome Emperors
- Brandon Jacobs Named to 2011 SAL Annual All-Star Team - Greenville Drive
- South Atlantic League Announces 2011 Annual All-Star Team - SAL1
- Intimidators Black, Shoemaker Named to SAL 2011 Annual All-Star Team - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Biddle, Murphy Named to SAL All-Star Team - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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