Ninth Inning Implosion Causes Third Straight Loss to Mudcats
April 19, 2024 - Carolina League (CarL)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: The GreenJackets held the Carolina Mudcats scoreless for 8.1 innings, but allowed five runs in the ninth and lost 5-3 on Friday night. It's the third straight loss for Augusta, who fall to 6-7 on the year.
The GreenJackets scored first off of starter Josh Knoth in the third, chasing Knoth early thanks to a double from Jacob Godman and an RBI single from Luis Sanchez. The 'Jackets had two on and one out, but reliever Jesus Rivero induced a double play on the first batter he faced to end the threat.
Augusta would add two runs against Rivero, one each in the fourth and sixth frames. Robert Gonzalez hammered an RBI double to center field to score Kade Kern from first in inning number four, and Drew Compton added an RBI single that brought home Jace Grady in the sixth.
The night was dominated defensively by Garrett Baumann. In just his fourth professional start, Baumann worked six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out a career high seven hitters in the longest appearance of his young career. He was supplemented by Mitch Farris, who struck out six batters in his first two innings of work to keep a 3-0 lead entering the ninth despite a high pitch count.
Farris came back out for the ninth and struck out the first man he faced, but a lengthy at bat ended in a walk to David Garcia and with his pitch count over 55, Wynston Sawyer turned to the bullpen and LJ McDonough to preserve the shutout.
McDonough allowed a single and a walk to the first two batters he saw, loading the bases for leadoff man Juan Baez. Baez hit a Baltimore Chop off of home plate and towards second base, where shortstop Diego Benitez tried to muscle a quick throw to first. Baez unleashed a flying leap to first, and was called safe. The single scored Garcia from third, and made the score 3-1.
One pitch later, everything had changed. Center fielder Yophery Rodriguez unloaded upon the first pitch he saw for a line drive grand slam that just left the yard to left field. The Mudcats took the lead 5-3, where the score would remain for the rest of the night. After McDonough escaped further damage, closer Harrison Durow came on and retired the stunned GreenJackets in order for his 3rd save of the year.
The win went to Aidan Maldonado, who pitched two perfect innings of relief, while McDonough took his first loss of 2024. The Jackets fall to 6-7, while the league-leading Mudcats jump up to 11-2.
Tomorrow the GreenJackets take the field as the Augusta Rams, honoring the legacy of baseball in Augusta and Leonard Hunt, the first Black professional baseball player in Augusta, who appeared for the Augusta Rams in 1954. The jerseys will be worn for one night only, then auctioned off to benefit the Paine College Baseball program. More info about all the exciting occurrences can be found here: https://www.milb.com/augusta/fans/gj-homestand-preview.
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