GreenJackets drop 5-3 to Suns

AUGUSTA, GA. - With their No. 2 starting pitcher, Joan Gregorio, out due to injury, the GreenJackets turned to reliever Justin Schumer to start on the mound Wednesday night. While Schumer has dominated out of the bullpen, he didn't have the same success in the first start of the season.

In the first inning, Hagerstown (14-11) scored five runs en route to a 5-3 victory against Augusta (16-9).

In Schumer's last appearance, he worked 2 hitless innings in the GreenJackets 12-1 win against the Legends on April 26. On Wednesday, he went 0.2 innings giving up three hits, five runs and three walks.

While the GreenJackets were down early, the slowly started erasing their five run deficit.

In the bottom of the first, centerfielder Jesus Galindo put Augusta on the board when he reached on a walk, advanced to second when Matt Duffy walked, moved to third when Shayne Houck grounded into a double play and scored on a wild pitch with Mitch Delfino at bat.

Duffy scored next in the third inning. With two outs, he reached first on his second walk of the night. He then stole second base and advanced to third thanks to a throwing error by the Suns' Pedro Severino. Duffy then scored when Houck reached on a fielding error by Hagerstown's Wes Schill. 

With one out and Rafael Rodriguez on first in the bottom of the fourth, Trevor Brown hit a single to center field to move Rodriguez to third. Rodriguez then scored when Chuckie Jones hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Unfortunately for the GreenJackets, Rodriguez's run was their final one of the game.

While Augusta dropped the first game of its homestand, the GreenJackets still remain in first place of the Southern Division. However, they now share that title with the Asheville Tourists and the Savannah Sand Gnats.