Rome Deals Key Blow in 5-4 Loss
September 4, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Rome, GA - Calvin Culver's ninth inning single off Edwin Quirarte gave the Rome Braves a 5-4 win in front of a near-sellout at State Mutual Stadium on Saturday night and dealt a crushing blow to the Augusta GreenJackets playoff hopes for 2009, officially eliminated after Asheville's win over Greenville that occurred minutes after the final result in Rome.
The Jackets took an early 1-0 lead on Andy D'Alessio's two-out double in the first inning but the Rome offense awoke like a sleeping giant in the fifth, scoring their first runs in 46 innings. The Braves sent eight hitters to the plate and took the lead on Ryan Barba's two-run single in the fifth. Shayne Moody's two-out RBI double added to the lead while Matt Kennelly drove Barba home with a single to complete the four-run frame.
Augusta struck back with three tallies in the seventh. D'Alessio doubled home his second run of the night while Charlie Culberson brought another home on his second hit of the game to pull the GreenJackets to within a run. After Culberson stole third, Juan Perez knocked a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game at four.
In the eighth, the Jackets put the go-ahead run in scoring position. With Wendell Fairley at third and Josh Mazzola - the team's best RBI man - at the plate with two outs, Mazzola bounced out to the pitcher to end the innings.
In the home half of the ninth, Derek Wiley led off with a single and advanced to second on a bunt and third on a groundout. Culver's two-out game-winning hit was the second walkoff win for the Braves over the GreenJackets this season.
David Francis (5-7) kept the GreenJackets at bay with 2.2 scoreless innings of one-hit baseball, striking out two in the win. Quirarte (6-4) allowed two hits and the game-winning run to take the loss for Augusta. The loss erases a fine relief effort by Ryan Verdugo - who struck out three in 3.2 scoreless frames - and nullifies the work of starters Orlando Yntema and J.J. Hoover.
Asheville's 4-0 win over first-half champion Greenville clinches the second-half title for the Tourists, who will meet the Drive in the three-game Southern Divisional series that will begin on Wednesday. The GreenJackets and Braves meet for the final three games of the regular season beginning on Saturday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium. Eric Surkamp (10-5, 3.47) takes the mound for the GreenJackets on Fan Appreciation night at the ballpark. First pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on WRDW AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com. You may purchase seats to any of the remaining 2009 home contests by calling 706-922-WINS or online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 4, 2009
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- Suns get most from Moore - Hagerstown Suns
- Pellegrini's record-breaking HR sends Legends to 6-4 victory - Lexington Legends
- Hot Rods blow 4-3 lead in ninth to drop series opener against Lexington - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Spain's trio of hits pace Power in victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Tourists Blank Drive, 4-0, to Claim 2nd Half Southern Division Title - Greenville Drive
- Dogs Flick Sand Gnats on Double Error, 5-3, Win Fifth Straight - Charleston RiverDogs
- Six late free passes doom Kannapolis, 2-1 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Crawdads come back for 2-1 win in 10 in Kannapolis - Hickory Crawdads
- Tourists Shutout Drive for Playoff Berth - Asheville Tourists
- Rome Deals Key Blow in 5-4 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- BlueClaws Belt 16 Hits in Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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