GreenJackets offense quiet in 3-1 loss to Columbia

North Augusta, SC: On Wednesday night, the Augusta GreenJackets (19-19) offense was silent. While the Columbia Fireflies (14-25) left 13 men-on-base, they got great performances on the mound and still prevailed for a 3-1 victory.

Columbia scored the game's 1^st run in the 1^st inning. GreenJackets starter Blake Rivera allowed an RBI single for Shervyen Newton and the Fireflies led it 1-0. Columbia came back and scored another run in the 2^nd inning. A groundball to shortstop Orlando Garcia resulted in an error, and Wagner Lagrange trotted home from 3^rd base to give the Fireflies a 2-0 lead.
Rivera ends his night after four innings and he allowed two runs, while only one was earned.
Colin Holderman continued to stymie the GreenJacket bats all night long. After he went the first four innings without allowing a hit, Diegot Rincones led it off with a double. Holderman responded to get two outs, but Nico Giarratano rolled a groundball to 1^st baseman Chase Chambers. It hit off the lip of the infield grass and took a funky hop into right field. Rincones scored from 2^nd and the GreenJackets trailed at just 2-1.
After Preston White went the first two innings of his appearance without allowing a hit, in the 7^th inning, Columbia's Hansel Moreno hit a solo home run, and the Fireflies took a 3-1 lead. Moreno was just added to the Columbia roster earlier in the day from Class-A Advanced St. Lucie, and had not hit a home run this season.
White ends up going 2.2 innings while allowing one run and striking-out five. JJ Santa Cruz came out of the GreenJackets bullpen and did now allow a run in 2.1 innings of work. Jesus Tona went a scoreless 9^th for the Jackets, but the offense did not score again and fell in the 2^nd game of the series.
Player of the Game: Nico Giarratano, 2-3, RBI
Although it was a funky way to score a run, Giarratano's RBI single that took a poor hop for Columbia 1^st baseman Chase Chambers ended the shutout for Columbia. Giarratano ends up with two of Augusta's three hits for the game.
Tomorrow's Game:  7:05 PM vs Columbia , SRP Park, North Augusta, South Carolina
Pitching Matchup: (COL) RHP Thomas Szapucki (0-0, 1.23 ERA) vs (AUG) RHP Jake Wong (2-1, 2.34 ERA)
The GreenJackets send out the #7 Prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization according to MLB.com. Wong, who was named the SAL Pitcher of the week from April 29^th-May 5^th, has been electric this year. In his last three starts, he has gone at least six innings in each outing. Going into his last start, he had not allowed a hit in 12 innings of work. Wong was a 3^rd round pick out of Grand Canyon University. While there, he originally was coming out of the bullpen, but later in his career, took over a starting role and was dominant.
Columbia will send out Thomas Szapucki to make the start in the series finale. Szapuck was a 5^th round pick by the Mets in 2015 and sat out all of last year with Tommy John surgery. He is ranked as the #8 Prospect in the New York Mets organization according to MLB.com.
About the Augusta GreenJackets
SRP Park is the anchor piece of Riverside Village, a live, work, "playball" development which includes apartment living, senior living, retail, restaurants, class "A" office space, and a Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. To learn more about SRP Park and hosting events and availability, visit www.thesrppark.com.
 
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