Rainiery Rodriguez Guides Augusta to Series Opening Win

For Immediate Release

GreenJackets Media Contact: Mitchell Speltz

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GreenJackets Begin Road Trip with Victory in Delmarva

Rainiery Rodriguez Guides Augusta to Series Opening Win

*SALISBURY, MD: *The Augusta GreenJackets (11-18) started their longest road trip of the season on Tuesday night with a nice victory against the Delmarva Shorebirds (13-18) by a score of 7-2.

The offense went right to work for Augusta as they scored quickly after a triple by Stephen Paolini as Brandol Mezquita brought him home on an infield hit to make it 1-0 GreenJackets.

The Shorebirds would even things up a couple of batters into the bottom of the first as Noelberth Romero homered over the wall in left-center to tie the game at one.

But the GreenJackets regained the lead in the second as the inning began with three consecutive walks to load the bases. One run would come in on a wild pitch with Francisco Floyd touching home to put Augusta back ahead 2-1. Stephen Paolini then scored Brian Klein on a sacrifice fly to center to push the GreenJackets' lead to 3-1.

Another August run would score in the fourth courtesy of a sacrifice by Adam Zebrowski for his team-best 44th RBI of the season to make it a 4-1 game.

In the fifth, Brandol Mezquita collected another infield hit and a misplay by the Delmarva infield allowed Kadon Morton to score and up the lead to 5-1. The GreenJackets would capitalize on another Shorebirds error on a throwing miscue by Conor Grady bringing home Mezquita to elevate Augusta further ahead 5-1.

In the next half-inning, Mishael Deson connected for another solo homer for the Shorebirds to cut Augusta's lead to 6-2.

But the GreenJackets would get that run back as Geraldo Quintero doubled into the corner in right field to plate Kadon Morton from first and take Augusta's lead back to five at 7-2.

The pitching led by Rainiery Rodriguez held down the fort from there as the GreenJackets' starter spun his second quality start of the season dealing six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

He was relieved by Rob Griswold who dealt two scoreless innings. Juan Mateo had the ninth and struck out the side as Augusta cruised to a series-opening win 7-2 over the Baltimore Orioles affiliate.

Rainiery Rodriguez's (2-2) second quality start of the season netted him his second victory with Delmarva starter Conor Grady (4-8) taking the loss for the Shorebirds.

A patient approach by the GreenJackets helped kickstart the offense as they drew 11 walks, led by Kadon Morton who walked a career-high four times. Augusta got multi-hit performances from Geraldo Quintero, Stephen Paolin, Brandol Mezquita, and Mahki Backstrom with the whole offense reaching base at least once during the game.

The GreenJackets will look to make it two straight to start their 12-game road trip as Luis Vargas takes the ball tomorrow against left-hander Deivy Cruz with first pitch from Perdue Stadium set for 7:05 pm.

About SRP Park/Augusta GreenJackets

The Augusta GreenJackets are the Carolina League Single-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves playing in the state of the art SRP Park located in North Augusta, SC. The GreenJackets 2022 Game and promotional schedule is out and available online at www.GreenJacketsBaseball.com. 2022 Augusta GreenJackets season seat memberships are on sale now. To learn more about the benefits and to get in on the action, visit www.gjmembers.comor call (803) 349-WINS (9467).

SRP Park is the anchor piece of Riverside Village, a live, work, "playball" development which includes apartment 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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