GreenJackets defeat Crawdads 10-9

The GreenJackets have made their mark as one of the top pitching squads in the South Atlantic League this season. As a team, they hold the third best ERA in the league. However, it was Augusta's bats that shined Friday night. In one of the most impressive nights on offense this season, the GreenJackets (75-54) used 16 hits and 10 runs in a game that featured five lead changes to defeat the Crawdads (73-58) 10-9 in L.P. Frans Stadium.

The GreenJackets started off with a bang. In the top of the second inning, first baseman Joey Rapp hit a solo home run over the center field wall. His sixth homer of the season gave the GreenJackets an early 1-0 lead.

Hickory answered immediately by putting up a run in the bottom of the second.

Augusta pulled ahead in the third by scoring three runs on four hits. Shortstop Travious Relaford reached on a fielding error by Hickory's Nick Urbanus and then scored with left fielder Shawn Payne doubled to right field. Payne plated a run shortly after when second baseman Alberto Robles hit a double to left field. Robles was the final run of the inning and scored on a single by third baseman Mitch Delfino.

While the Crawdas were down 4-1, they retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth when they scored five runs on four hits.

The GreenJackets scored two more runs in the fifth inning. After Robles doubled to left field, Delfino hit his 11th homer of the season to tie the game up at 6. The Crawdads retaliated with two more runs in bottom of the fifth, but that was the last time they took the lead.

GreenJackets scored two runs in the sixth on a RBI single by Rando Moreno and a sacrifice fly by Robles. Then in the seventh the GreenJackets had their third-straight two-inning run, this time it came on a sacrifice fly by Shayne Houck and another RBI single by Moreno.

The GreenJackets will continue their series against the Crawdads tonight at 7 p.m.