SAL1 Augusta GreenJackets

Rogers Twirls Gem; Jackets Win Ninth Straight

Published on July 17, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release


Augusta, GA - During the winter, actor Charlie Sheen gave "winning" a whole new meaning. This July, the Augusta GreenJackets have restored the term's proper meaning. Taylor Rogers fell two outs shy of the first GreenJackets complete game of the season as the GreenJackets picked up a 9-2 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats on Sunday afternoon, pushing their season-long winning streak to nine games.

Augusta won for just the fourth time in 16 meetings against the Sand Gnats as the GreenJackets have won 11 of their last 12 games overall. Sunday's win pulls the GreenJackets to within half a game of the first place Sand Gnats and a win in Monday's series finale will put the GreenJackets on top in the Southern Division for the first time all year.

Rogers (7-8) became the first GreenJackets starter to pitch into the ninth inning, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three. It was Rogers' first win in over a month and only the second by a GreenJackets starter during the team's current nine-game winning streak.

After the teams traded runs early on a Joel Weeks RBI single in the Augusta second and a Wilfredo Tovar run-scoring single in the Savannah third, the GreenJackets scored the game's next eight runs to jump out to a large lead. Carlos Willoughby tripled home a pair in the fourth and scored later in the inning on a throwing error to put Augusta up 4-1.

In the sixth, the GreenJackets batted around and scored five times to put the game out of reach. Adam Duvall's two-run home run - his league-leading 20th of the season - was the key blow in the five-run frame. Ryan Scoma singled in a run, Chris Lofton's sacrifice fly plated another and an error allowed Joel Weeks to score as Augusta jumped out in front by a 9-1 margin.

Savannah got a run in the ninth on an RBI groundout, but Stephen Harrold retired two of the three hitters he faced to finish things for the GreenJackets - now winners of 11 of their last 12 contests.

Sand Gnats starter Ryan Fraser (6-6) took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out a pair.

The GreenJackets send Mike Kickham (1-5, 4.95) to the mound in search of the series sweep, the homestand sweep and first place in the South Atlantic League's Southern Division. Savannah counters with All-Star starting pitcher Taylor Whitenton (4-2, 2.71). 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 are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS while further information can be found online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 17, 2011


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