Augusta Torches Columbia with Four Home Runs

For Immediate Release

GreenJackets Media Contact: Mitchell Speltz

(803) 349-9467

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GreenJackets Power Their Way to Dominating Victory

Augusta Torches Columbia with Four Home Runs

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: The Augusta GreenJackets (17-12) were on fire Thursday night as their bats delivered a huge performance against the Columbia Fireflies (10-20) as Augusta roughed up their I-20 rivals with a 13-2 win.

The GreenJackets scored in the first inning for the sixth consecutive game by producing three first-inning runs, all coming off the bat of Braulio Vasquez with a single that scored Gerlado Quintero and Cal Conely, Adam Zebrowski would also find his way home on the play after a throwing error by Columbia to make it 3-0.

The offense came through with another run in the third inning as Mahki Backstrom legged out a fielder’s choice to up the lead to 4-0.

The story early in this one was starting pitcher Jordano Perez who was dealing in his first outing at SRP Park as the right-hander dealt six innings, allowing just two runs en route to the second quality start by an Augusta hurler this season.

The scoring would pick up again in the fifth inning as the GreenJackets loaded the bases for Kadon Morton who fired a missile off his bat and into left field to score both Brandol Mezquita and Braulio Vasquez, taking the Augusta advantage to 6-0.

The Fireflies' lone two runs of the night came in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer by Carter Jensen.

That’s all the fun they’d have on Thursday night, however, as the GreenJackets dropped the hammer on Columbia the rest of the way starting with a four-run sixth inning ignited by Geraldo Quintero who launched his second homer of the season to make it 7-2. Later, it was Mahki Backstrom making his mark yet again as the first basemen pounded a long home run over the right-field wall to score three runs, taking the Augusta lead to 10-2.

Another run would score off the bat of Cal Conley in the seventh inning on an infield hit that plated home Kadon Morton, making it 11-2.

The GreenJackets would apply the exclamation point in the eighth inning as Backstrom went yard again to straight-away center field. His solo-homer capped off a three-hit and five RBI game for the first basemen. Connor Blair joined the party immediately after Backstrom’s second bomb with one of his own to go back-to-back on the Fireflies to complete a 13-2 victory.

Augusta has now won five games in a row as Jordano Perez earned his first victory on the mound while Rylan Kaufman took the loss.

Eight of the nine GreenJackets starters reached base led by Backstrom and his monster night at the plate. Gerarldo Quintero also produced three hits with two singles and his sixth-inning home run. Brauilo Vasquez collected two RBIs in the first inning and reached base three times total as he now has RBIs in three consecutive games.

Augusta can earn an early series victory on Friday night as they’ll go for the sixth straight win with Landon Leach getting the ball versus Ben Hernandez for the Fireflies. First pitch comes from SRP Park at 7:05 pm.

The third homestand of the season for the Augusta GreenJackets continues against the Columbia Fireflies with the third Braves BUZZFest to get the weekend started along with Feature Friday with the featured item being the Smoke and Fire Turkey Burger: Chipotle pepper relish, bacon, pepper jack cheese and ground turkey burger. It's also Air GreenJackets Night where you can travel around the world with the GreenJackets. The White Claw Pregame Concert Series gets Saturday night going with live music from Will McCraine (4:30-5:30pm) plus $4 White Claws until first pitch with another Fireworks Extravaganza following the game. The homestand finishes with Bark at the Park, Sunday Funday, Sunday Savings, and Jr. Jackets Kids Club.

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About SRP Park/Augusta GreenJackets

The Augusta GreenJackets are the Carolina League Single-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves playing in the state of the art SRP Park located in North Augusta, SC. The GreenJackets 2022 Game and promotional schedule is out and available online at www.Green-JacketsBaseball.com. 2022 Augusta GreenJackets season seat memberships are on sale now. To learn more about the benefits and to get in on the action, visit www.gjmembers.comor call (803) 349-WINS (9467).

SRP Park is the anchor piece of Riverside Village, a live, work, "playball" development which includes apartment 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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