Offense erupts in 9-8 win over Greenville

GREENVILLE, SC: In a back-and-forth affair with the Greenville Drive on Wednesday night, Diego Rincones threw the haymaker on an RBI-single to break an 8-8 tie giving the GreenJackets a 9-8 victory over the Greenville Drive, Boston Red Sox Single-A Affiliate. Jesus Tona collected his first save of the season and the GreenJackets split the rain-filled series with Greenville while finishing with 15 hits on the night.

The GreenJackets got the offense started in the 1^st inning. An RBI-fielders choice for Diego Rincones began the offensive onslaught for Augusta. Greenville responded with a run on a wild pitch scoring Kervin Suarez tying the score at 1.
In the 2^nd inning the GreenJackets tacked on two more runs on a Jeffry Parra two-RBI single making it 3-1 Augusta. Greenville had an answer again though. A four-run fourth inning for the Drive, including a bases clearing triple for Kervin Suarez gave the Drive a 5-3 lead.
Starter Blake Rivera was unable to finish the 2^nd inning and ends his night after 1.2 innings allowing five runs with four of them being earned.
With Greenville leading 5-3, the GreenJackets plated three runs in the 3^rd inning. The first run crossed home on an Aaron Bond RBI single, and it was followed immediately by a two-run home run for Frankie Tostado making it 6-5 GreenJackets. In the 4^th inning, Shane Matheny added an RBI double making it 7-5 Augusta.
Jeffry Parra drove in his 3^rd RBI of the game with a single in the 5^th, and Augusta took an 8-5 lead. But the GreenJackets bullpen was unable to keep Greenville off the board. A balk from Norwith Gudino allowed Brandon Howlett to score making it 8-6, and then in the 7^th inning, Triston Casa hit a solo home run to make it 8-7. An RBI-groundout for Juan Carlos Abreu tied it up at eight, after seven innings.
Rincones singled scoring Nico Giarratano from 2^nd base in the 8^th inning, and the Jackets took the lead for good at 9-8. Tona allowed two men to reach base in the 9^th, but shut the door as Augusta held on for the one-run victory.
Solomon Bates gets the win, while Miguel Suero gets the loss for Greenville. Augusta goes to 3-3, while Greenville also goes to 3-3 on the year.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Frankie Tostado, 4-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
In a game that saw incredible individual performances all around the lineup, Tostado had as many hits tonight as he did in his first four games. The lefty-bat also had his first home run of the season in the 3^rd as he improves the average on the season all the way to .381 on the year.
TOMORROW: 7:05 pm @ Appalachian Power Park (Charleston, West Virginia)
Gregory Santos (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs Ryne Inman (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
Two right-handers open up the series in West Virginia tomorrow night. For the GreenJackets, Gregory Santos will make his 2^nd start of the season. Santos, the #8 prospect in the San Francisco Giants system went three innings, allowing three runs, and striking out three. While the outing started out rough for Santos, he seemed to get better as it went on.
Ryne Inman, the Round 15 selection in 2015 out of high school, went four innings out in his first start against the Greenville Drive, allowing four runs while striking out seven. In 2018 for the Clinton LumberKings of the Class-A Midwest League, Inman went 4-10 with a 4.57 ERA.
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