West Virginia takes series with 5-3 victory

North Augusta, SC: On Friday night, the GreenJackets (16-17) offense came out and took an early 3-0 lead. But the wheels fell off in the 4^th inning when the GreenJackets committed two errors and West Virginia (20-13) took advantage for four runs. The Power scored one more in the 5^th and it was enough to beat Augusta, 5-3.

After Ismael Munguia walked and stole 2^nd base to begin the game for the Jackets, Diego Rincones singled into right field to score Munguia and lift the GreenJackets to an early 1-0 advantage. GreenJackets starting pitcher Blake Rivera struck out the side in the 1^st inning for the Jackets.
The GreenJackets posted another run in the 2^nd inning on an RBI double for Jose Layer and it was Frankie Tostado who came back in the 3^rd inning with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 3-0.
After Rivera did not allow a hit in his first three innings, West Virginia got on the board in the 4^th inning.
With Ryan Ramiz on 1^st base, Rivera received a groundball on the mound off the bat of Bobby Honeyman and when he went to turn and throw to 2^nd to begin the double play, Rivera tossed it into centerfield. Ramiz went to 3^rd, and on the throw in from Layer in centerfield, he delivered it over his 3^rd baseman and it allowed Honeyman to advance to 2^nd.
 A passed ball scored the 1^st run making it just 3-1 GreenJackets. Then Charlie McConnell tripled to tie the score at three. After J.R. Davis doubled to give West Virginia a 4-3 lead, Rivera was pulled from the game.
Rivera finishes after 3.1 innings allowing four runs, while three were earned. He picked-up seven strikeouts while he walked six.
In the 5^th inning, West Virginia tacked on another run, this time off J.J. Santa Cruz. An RBI double for Davis extended the lead to 5-3 West Virginia.
At the plate, the GreenJackets offense couldn't muster up any more runs and fell 5-3. The GreenJackets finish the year 2-5 against West Virginia.
Player of the Game: Jesus Tona, 3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 SO
After Tona allowed three runs, his first runs of the season, in his last outing, he came back tonight and went a career high three innings of shutout baseball. He also struck out four.
Tomorrow's Game:  6:35 PM @ Whitaker Bank Ballpark, Lexington, Kentucky
Pitching Matchup: (AUG) RHP Jake Wong (2-1, 2.20 ERA) vs (LEX) RHP Jonathan Bowlan (1-2, 3.18 ERA)
Jake Wong and Jonathan Bowlan are familiar with one another. On April 30^th at SRP Park in a 10:35 a.m. start time, the two each had no-hitters going in to the 6^th inning. Wong ended up out-pitching Bowlan to earn his 2^nd win of the year. After he went six innings of no-hit baseball against Lexington, Wong did the exact same thing in his last start against Hagerstown on May 5^th, and earned himself the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week Award. Wong has not allowed a hit in his last 12 innings, and the last time he gave up a hit or a run came on April 24^th at Hickory.
While Jonathan Bowlan received the loss at SRP Park on April 30^th, he had a no-hitter through the first five innings before the GreenJackets ripped off four runs in the 6^th, and Bowlan did not record an out as Lexington went to the bullpen in the 6^th inning. The 2^nd round selection by the Kansas City Royals in 2018 is holding hitters to a .196 average and has 34 strikeouts to only five walks this year.
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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