Rusber Estrada Powers GreenJackets to Friday Night Win
June 3, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: The Augusta GreenJackets (26-23) defeated the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (19-30) for the second consecutive night at SRP Park, 5-2 thanks to some timely swings and another masterful night of pitching.
The Cannon Ballers jumped ahead against starter J.J. Niekro early by scoring in the second inning on a double-play ball, and a solo home run in the third inning from Wes Kath to make it 2-0 Kannapolis after three innings.
But that would be the last time you'd hear from the Cannon Ballers' offense as they were shut down for the remainder of the night.
Their 2-0 lead would vanish in the fourth as the GreenJackets score four runs on a pair of swings. The first one came off the bat of Rusber Estrada who tied the game on a no-doubt, two-run blast to even the score. The next run-scoring knock was delivered from Cal Conley who bounced one to Kannapolis shortstop Wilber Sanchez who missed the target on his throw to home, leading to two additional runs scoring to give Augusta their first lead at 4-2.
Niekro settled in after that point on the mound as the reliable Augusta arm would proceed to toss the longest outing by a GreenJackets' starter in 2022 by dealing seven innings on the mound, reaching that point by retiring the final 12 Kannapolis batters he faced to hold Augusta's 4-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Their offense would collect one more insurance run on another home run by Rusber Estrada as the GreenJacket catcher knocked a solo homer out of the park to up the GreenJackets' advantage to 5-2.
They'd hold steady the rest of the way as Miguel Peña dealt a scoreless eighth inning, with Juan Mateo coming in for the save in the ninth. Three straight walks put Kannapolis in business but Mateo would work himself out of trouble with an infield pop-up and a strike out to end the game with the GreenJackets finishing on top once again, 5-2.
J.J. Niekro improved to 4-0 on the season with his seven-inning gem where he struck out six, giving up nothing to the Cannon Ballers after the third inning. Brian Carrion was the losing pitcher in relief for Kannapolis.
Rusber Estrada's two-homer game was the third time a GreenJacket had gone deep twice in a single night joining Cal Conley and Mahki Backstrom as Estrada finished the game with three RBIs in total.
Game five of the series is live from SRP Park on Saturday night with Jordano Perez set to duel against Noah Owen for the Cannon Ballers with first pitch set for 6:05 pm.
The fifth homestand at SRP Park continues Saturday with the White-Claw Pregame Concert Series as MacKenzie Blake performs from 4:30-5:30 pm. In addition, the GreenJackets celebrate Cancer Survivor/Awareness night along with another Fireworks Extravaganza following the game presented by Augusta University Health. The homestand finishes on Sunday with Bark in the Park sponsored by Hollywood Feed along with Sunday Funday!
Carolina League Stories from June 3, 2022
- Rusber Estrada Powers GreenJackets to Friday Night Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Palma Provides the Offense While Salgado and Ullola Shut Out FredNats - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Lara Turns In Solid Start Friday In Fayetteville - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Carolina Offense Stifled in 6-1 Loss - Carolina Mudcats
- Chourio and Quero Homer in 7-4 Carolina Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Pelicans Suspended with the 'Birds Leading 5-1 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Friday Night's Game Suspended in the Fourth Inning - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats Defeat Mudcats - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Pitching Pushes RiverDogs Past Wood Ducks to Even Series - Charleston RiverDogs
- COLUMBIA FIREFLIES: Six-Run Sixth Sets Down Columbia - Columbia Fireflies
- Jeremy De La Rosa Earns Carolina League Player of the Month - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Vernon Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for May - Charleston RiverDogs
- Another Day, Another W - Down East Wood Ducks
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes June 3 at Salem - Columbia Fireflies
- Pelicans Route Shorebirds 11-5 on Thursday Night - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- RiverDogs Can't Sustain Quick Start, Fall 4-1 to Wood Ducks - Charleston RiverDogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
