Jackets Fall Just Short in Chaotic Finish

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Noah Adcock-Howeth

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Jackets Fall Just Short in Chaotic Finish

Hickory Catcher Gets Save After Augusta Chases Closer

HICKORY, NC: A back and forth Saturday ballgame took a turn for the strange in the 9^th, as the GreenJackets entered needing four runs off of Hickory’s closer and finished the frame one run short against the Crawdads’ 3^rd-string catcher.

On a frigid night where the real feel approached 40 degrees after nightfall, both offenses sparked early before dimming almost as fast. The Crawdads ambushed starter Rayven Antonio in his first outing of the year, with a walk and two doubles setting the tone early. A pair of sacrifice flies gave Hickory a three-run cushion for Aneudis Mejia, although Mejia gave most of it back almost immediately.

Mejia walked two of the first three hitters he faced in the 2^nd, and paid the price, as Mac Guscette continued his strong weekend with an RBI double to put the GreenJackets on the board. Jake Steels sent a roller to short to add another run, and bring the ‘Jackets within a run. From there, neither offense would score from the next few innings as both starters settled in.

Augusta would take their first lead in the top of the 6^th, as for the second time this week Alberto Mota’s lack of command cost the Crawdads a pair of runs. Mota walked the first two men he faced, and both would score two outs later thanks to Eric Hartman. Hartman spun an infield single towards 3^rd that scored the tying run, and a subsequent throwing error brought Augusta in front.

From there, Hickory responded heavily, starting in the 7^th as they chased Logan Samuels, who had been rolling through 2+ relief innings. A bloop double to shallow right put the tying run aboard, and after Samuels’ night was ended in favor of Seth Keller, Rafe Perich hammered a line drive off of Colby Jones’ glove to tie the game.

Keller struggled to curtail the tidal wave of offense in the 8^th, where Hickory scored four runs on two hits and three walks, thanks to big swings from Luis Marquez and Maxton Martin. With an 8-4 lead entering the 9^th and closer Michael Valverde entering, Hickory seemed on the precipice of a big win, but the 9^th would prove tricky.

Valverde had grabbed the win on Wednesday in relief, but lacked command in the cold conditions, and walked the bases loaded to start the inning. He would calm himself enough to strike out Luis Sanchez and Guscette, and sit one out away from victory. But Steels sliced a two-run single to halve the lead, and forced manager Carlos Maldonado to make an unfortunate decision.

With Valverde at 30 pitches, the most allowed in an inning by Rangers’ brass, his night was forced to be done, though Hickory apparently had no more relievers available. Maldonado instead went to third-string catcher Beycker Barroso, who lobbed a series of 70 mph tosses that led to a walk and an RBI hit by pitch. It set the stage for Nick Montgomery, who had a chance to give Augusta the lead back. Montgomery crushed a liner to deep right-center field, but center fielder Chandler Pollard made a sensational diving catch to steal the win for the Crawdads.

With a heart-breaking loss in the rearview mirror, the GreenJackets will look to salvage a series split behind the 2025 debut of Luis Arestigueta. Augusta returns home Tuesday for a six-game series against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, which will include Augusta Azaleas Weekend and the exciting on-field debut of the new uniforms.

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