Augusta drops 4-3 to Charleston

AUGUSTA, GA. - With one out in the bottom of the designated hitter Shayne Houck hit a line drive over the left field wall. Houck's first home run of the season put the GreenJackets up 1-0, but their lead slowly slipped away.

Augusta (29-24) lost 4-3 to Charleston (31-20) on Thursday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

After Houck's solo shot, the RiverDogs put up two runs in the top of the third. With Matt Lujan on the mound, Charleston's Jose Rosario led off the third with a double to left field. Lujan then gave up a walk to Fu-Lin Kuo. After Rosario and Kuo moved over on a wild pitch, Rosario scored on a single by Danny Oh. Then Kuo scored on a force out by Claudio Custodio.

Although the RiverDogs had a 2-1 lead, the GreenJackets came back in the bottom of the third.

With one out, Chuckie Jones reached first on a throwing error by Charleston's Rosario. After Jesus Galindo struck out, Trevor Brown singled to shortstop. Then first baseman Joey Rapp hit a two-run double to left field.

The GreenJackets held onto their 3-2 lead until the sixth inning. Charleston's Peter O'Brien hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Claudio Custodio who reached on a double.

The RiverDogs then pulled ahead in the seventh inning. With Brandon Farley on the mound, Oh scored the game winning run on a single by Custodio.

After their loss, the GreenJackets fall to three games out of first place. They face the RiverDogs again tonight at 7:05 p.m. for Fireworks Friday.