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Rivera dominant in series opening win

Blake Rivera goes six innings with 10 strikeouts to help the jackets earn a 3-1 win over Kannapolis
June 6, 2019

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: SRP Park has seen Blake Rivera at his best in 2019. The right-hander, after six innings of shutout baseball on Thursday, lowered his home ERA to 1.76 on the year, and he helped the GreenJackets (30-30) earn a series opening win over the Kannapolis Intimidators (26-34) by

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: SRP Park has seen Blake Rivera at his best in 2019. The right-hander, after six innings of shutout baseball on Thursday, lowered his home ERA to 1.76 on the year, and he helped the GreenJackets (30-30) earn a series opening win over the Kannapolis Intimidators (26-34) by a final score of 3-1.

The GreenJackets offense went right to work in the 1st inning. After Mikey Edie reached base on a strikeout with a wild pitch, Shane Matheny rolled one into the gap, but was thrown out at 2nd base looking for a double.
It moved Edie to 3rd base and so the GreenJackets were only 90-feet away from scoring the 1st run of the game. Frankie Tostado came up with two outs, and drilled a single into right field to make it 1-0 GreenJackets. The RBI for Tostado was his 40th of the season.
As Kannapolis came out to play defense in the 2nd inning, the rain came pouring down. Kannapolis Manager Ryan Newman would be ejected as he wanted the game to delayed. The game would eventually go into a delay, and we would wait 20 minutes in order to repair the field before the bottom of the 2nd inning began.
Blake Rivera didn't let the rain bother him, as he retired the first nine batters that he faced. His offense grabbed another run for him in the 3rd inning when Diego Rincones muscled a single into right field and it would give the GreenJackets a 2-0 advantage.
Rivera ended his night after six innings of shutout baseball. He was dealing all night long, and the right-hander ended his night with a career high 10 strikeouts while allowing only one hit. Tyler Schimpf came out of the bullpen in the 7th and was able to strike out the side to keep Kannapolis off the board.
The Jackets offense manufactured another run in the 7th inning. With two outs, Anyesber Sivira singled, and Mikey Edie would triple to score Sivira and give the Jackets a 3-0 lead.
In the 8th inning, Kannapolis produced their first run of the game. Franklin Van Gurp came into the game and would allow a solo home run off the bat of Michael Hickman to make the score just 3-1 Jackets. Van Gurp would allow only one run as he came back and got the final three outs in the 9th. It was his 4th save of the season as the Jackets won the series opener by a final of 3-1.
Player of the Game: Blake Rivera, 6 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 10 SO
Blake Rivera was brilliant all night long. His 10 strikeouts were a career high, and the 4th round pick from Wallace State Community College in 2018 would earn his 2nd win of 2019.
Tomorrow's Game:  7:05 PM vs Kannapolis Intimidators (Chicago White Sox), SRP Park, North Augusta, South Carolina
Pitching Matchup: (KAN) LHP Sam Long (2-1, 3.00 ERA) vs (AUG) LHP Seth Corry (1-2, 2.49 ERA)
GreenJackets All-Star Seth Corry will get the baseball in the 2nd game of the series tomorrow with the Kannapolis Intimidators. Corry, the southpaw who is ranked as the San Francisco Giants #25 overall prospect according to MLB.com, was a 3rd round pick out of Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah in 2017. Corry leads the GreenJackets with 65 strikeouts this year and in his last outing, he tied his career high with 5.1 innings on the mound while getting his first win of the season. He did not allow an earned run in his last start and finished with six strikeouts.
On the mound for Kannapolis will be Sam Long. Long was an 18th round selection out of Sacramento State University in 2018. He has appeared in 16 games this season, but it will be just his 2nd start of 2019 for Kannapolis. In his first start of the year on June 2nd, Long went 4.0 innings while allowing only two runs. Opponents are hitting just .211 against the southpaw this year.
Next Homestand: June 6th-June 9th vs the Kannapolis Intimidators
The GreenJackets return home to SRP Park to host the Kannapolis Intimidators June 6th - June 9th. It's going to be a weekend of fun featuring Thirsty Thursday presented by Garden City Social & Mr. Tattoo with a special Appearance by Kevin Kisner! The first 750 fans will receive a Golf Towel courtesy of Cintas and it's Tribute to Teachers Night. Friday it's First Responders Night, the first 1,000 fans will receive a one-of-a-kind set of plaid sunglasses courtesy of Best Office Solutions and Kids Run the Bases. Saturday SRP Park transforms to Margaritaville with a pre-game concert, Anthony and London Thuan State Farm Saturday, Kids Run the Bases and Post-game Fireworks presented by Helm Electric. The fun wraps up on Sunday with the ever popular Princess and Pirates Junior Jackets Sunday! All kids 12 and under get in for FREE, Path 2 College Sunday Funday with pre-game Catch on the Field and Post-game Kids Run the Bases. Get your tickets today to Catch the Buzz: https://www.milb.com/augusta/tickets/single-game-tickets
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.
 
2019 Augusta GreenJackets season tickets are on sale now. To learn more about the benefits and to get in on the 2019 action, visit www.greenjacketsbaseball.com or call (803) 349-WINS (9467).
 
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