A Well Earned Win for the GreenJackets
AUGUSTA, GA: On Thursday, July 23rd the Augusta GreenJackets 48-48 (15-12) and the Greenville Drive 50-47 (12-15) faced off at Lake Olmstead Stadium for game two. With the 2014 San Francisco Giants World Trophy in the house, fans hoped that the GreenJackets would use some special World Series magic for a Thursday night victory. The GreenJackets after giving up a two run lead. Came back from one run down to win Thursday night's game with a score of four to three.
The GreenJackets posted a run in first two innings of play. Once again it was Johneshwy Fargas reeking havoc on the base paths in the first inning. After a single to lead off, Fargas stole second and third for his forty-seventh and forty-eighth stolen bases of 2015. Aramis Garcia then singled in Fargas. Garcia has now recorded an RBI in four straight games. In the second inning back to back doubles by Dylan Davis and Andrew Cain put the GreenJackets out front with a score of two to zero.
In the fifth and sixth innings the Drive came roaring back with three runs to take the lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning after giving up a two run home run to Javier Guerra, starting pitcher Chris Johnson (5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 SO) was taken out of the game by manager Nestor Rojas. Dusten Knight came in with two outs and struck out Joseph Monge to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning the GreenJackets came back swinging at the Drive. Jonah Arenado and Skyler Ewing combined for a one two punch. When, Arenado singled and then Skyler Ewing tripled to tie the game at three a piece. After a scoreless top of the seventh inning, once again Johnshwy Fargas found himself on first base. A pick off attempt at first base by pitcher Reed Reilly went sailing past first basemen Franicisco Tellez. Fargas took off for second and ended up making it all the way to third base standing up. This gave Travious Relaford a chance to be the hero for tonight's game. Relaford ripped a single to left field to give the GreenJackets the go ahead run.
With two innings left to play and the lead, it was now up to the GreenJackets bullpen. Dusten Knight worked the first two outs of the eighth inning until the call for Carlos Diaz came from the dugout to the bullpen. Diaz shut down the Drive's final four outs for the GreenJackets win.
Tonight's final scoreboard line would read three runs, eight hits, two errors for the Greenville Drive and four runs, nine hits, and one error for the Augusta GreenJackets. Dusten Knight is now (6-1 ERA 1.76) with tonight's win, Reed Reilly falls to (4-4 ERA 4.26), and Carlos Diaz picks up his third save on the season.
Tomorrow night the GreenJackets and Drive play their final game of the series, as the GreenJackets look to go for the sweep. LHP Mark Reyes and RHP Ben Taylor will be the probable pitching match up for Friday night's 7:05pm game.
As for outside of the lines, The GreenJackets will host our annual Faith and Family night as a part of an action packed Friday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The Harlem based musical group The Remedy will be leading off Faith and Family night with a pre-game concert starting at 6:00pm on the main concourse. The first 1,000 guests will receive the one of a kind SRP Federal Credit Union Road to the Show Tumbler featuring the likeness of Madison Bumgarner, Matt Duffy, Roberto Kelly, Juan Perez, Sergio Romo and Pablo Sandoval! What better way to cap off a Friday then with a Faith & Family themed Fireworks Extravaganza presented by American Family Insurance. Kids will also be able to run the bases and guests can try their luck with Launch-a-Ball.
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