GreenJackets Grab Season Opener Against Legends

AUGUSTA, Ga. - One early error proved to be costly for Lexington Friday night.

In the bottom of the 1st with two outs, third baseman Mitchell Delfino, reached first safely thanks to a throwing error by the Legends' shortstop, Raul Mondesi. Two batters later, first baseman Joe Rapp singled to center field, scoring Delfino and giving the GreenJackets (1-0) the only run they needed to defeat the Legends (0-1) in a 4-0 victory at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

After Rapp's RBI, Augusta continued its two-out rally. Charles Jones singled on a ground ball to shortstop to bring in Rafael Rodriguez, who got on base with a line drive single to center.

While the bats came through early for the GreenJackets, it was their pitching that really stood out.

Martin Agosta, from Saint Mary's College, went five scoreless innings against the Legends. The 6-foot-1 righty used nine strikeouts, while giving up only four hits to grab his first win of the season.

The first inning provide to be the only challenging one for Agosta. After striking out Mondesi, Agosta loaded the bases by giving up two singles and hitting a batter. Fortunately for the GreenJackets, they turned a double play to escape the inning.

In the next four innings, Agosta only allowed one runner to get into scoring position.

"He was sharp," manager Mike Goff said. "He commanded all his pitches. I think he was a little nervous the first inning, but once he settled down, he pretty much controlled the ball game all five innings."

Following Agosta's dominate performance on the mound, reliever Derek Law took over in the sixth. Law pitched a hitless three innings, while striking out four batters.  

Closer Tyler Mizenko then finished the game for Augusta in the ninth. Mizenko shut down the side in order, while picking up two strikeouts.

The pitching kept them out of trouble all night, but that didn't stop the GreenJackets from tacking on insurance runs in the fifth and seventh.

In the bottom of the fifth, shortstop Matt Duffy started things off for Augusta with a walk. Delfino then singled to left field, advancing Duffy to second. Following Delfino's at-bat, Rodriguez grounded to Lexington's third baseman Michael Antonio. Luckily, Antonio got the forced out at second, allowing Duffy to advance to third.

Rapp, who had a solid start for the GreenJackets' offense, came through again with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Duffy.

The GreenJackets tacked on their final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Jesus Galindo led off with a single to centerfield. But due to a throwing error by the Legends' Bubba Starling, Galindo advanced to third. Duffy then singled on a line drive to left field, to bring in the final run of the game.

After their exciting opening day win, the GreenJackets will play a doubleheader against the Legends today. The first game starts at 5:05 p.m. and gates open at 4 p.m.