Jackets rattle off 4th straight victory, defeat Lexington 6-3

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY: It was Keaton Winn's night, and the Lexington Legends (33-31) figured that out quickly. The GreenJackets (33-30) right-hander twirled six-innings of shutout baseball, and he retired the last 10 batters that he faced. It was Winn's 3^rd win of the season and the Jackets rolled to a 6-3 victory on Tuesday evening.

The GreenJackets have now won four consecutive games, and they are 9-2 in their last 11. They also improve to 7-1 against the Legends in 2019. With Charleston's win over Rome, the Jackets will stay 1-game back of 1^st place, with five games to play in the 1^st half.
Neither team could score a run to begin the game. GreenJackets starter Keaton Winn allowed three hits through the first three innings, but Lexington left four men-on-the-bases and could not scratch a run across, and we remained scoreless.
In the 5^th inning, the GreenJackets received a leadoff single from Dalton Combs, and it was Jeffry Parra drawing a walk to put two men-on-base. Nico Giarratano was looking to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but he was hit-by-a-pitch to load the bases. Ismael Munguia would come up later in the inning and smack a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 Jackets.
Augusta would come back and get more run support for their starting pitcher. In the 6^th inning, Jacob Gonzalez doubled off the wall to make it a 2-0 Jackets lead, then it was Jeffry Parra with an RBI single to make it 3-0 Augusta.
Winn was dealing all night long. He'd finish the night after six innings of shutout baseball, and he allowed only three hits to earn the win. The bats continued to manufacture runs as Munguia drove in his 2^nd RBI of the game with a double in the 7^th to score Anyesber Sivira. With the lead at 4-0, it was Diego Rincones belting a sacrifice fly to give the Jackets a 5-0 advantage.
Lexington would not go quietly though. In the 8^th inning, the Legends posted three runs to make it just a 5-3 advantage for Augusta. Munguia capped off a two-hit night with another RBI double to get the lead back to at least three runs, at 6-3, in the 9^th inning. Munguia finished 2-4 with three-RBI.
Luis Amaya looked for the final three outs in the 9^th inning, and he would secure the win for the GreenJackets as Lexington could not get the tying run to the plate, and the Jackets won the 2^nd game of the series.
 Player of the Game: Keaton Winn, W, 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 6 K
Keaton Winn has been steady all season long, and on Wednesday, he was brilliant. He went six innings on 83 pitches, and he walked just one batter. His six strikeouts were tied for his season high and he earned his 3^rd win of the year.
Tomorrow's Game:  12:05 PM @ Lexington Legends (Kansas City Royals), Whitaker Bank Ballpark, Lexington, Kentucky
Pitching Matchup: (LEX) LHP Evan Steele (1-1, 1.62 ERA) vs (AUG) RHP Blake Rivera (3-4, 3.62 ERA)
Blake Rivera will take the mound for the GreenJackets in the series finale with the Lexington Legends. Rivera is coming off one of his best outings of the year. He went six-innings of shutout baseball and allowed only one hit against the Kannapolis Intimidators on June 6^th at SRP Park. Rivera also had a career high 10 strikeouts that night, as he earned his 3^rd win of the season. The right-hander was selected in back-to-back years by the San Francisco Giants. In 2017 they selected him in the 32^nd round. He decided to return to Wallace State Community College for a 2^nd year, and the Giants drafted him again. He was a 5^th round pick in 2018.
The first southpaw to throw for either team in the series will be Evan Steele on Wednesday afternoon. The 22-year old is making just his 5^th start of the year for Lexington. He was the 73^rd overall selection in the 2017 MLB Draft. After pitching in just eight-innings in 2017 for the Arizona League Royals, Steele sat out for all of 2018 after he had shoulder surgery. He was drafted out of Chipola Junior College, and is from Marietta, Georgia.
Next Homestand: vs Rome Braves, June 13-16
The Augusta GreenJackets, South Atlantic League affiliate of San Francisco Giants, are back starting on Thursday, June 13^th through Sunday, June 16^th! The GreenJackets have FOUR games on tap that are packed full of FUN! The GreenJackets will welcome back the Rome Braves (Atlanta Braves) as they inch closer to hopefully taking the lead and clinching a first half title!
The fun starts on Thursday for Thirsty Thursday presented by: Garden City Social, Mr. Tattoo, Kicks 99 and BOB FM. It will also be South Carolina Gamecocks Night as we hope to see SRP Park painted with South Carolina fans! Friday night will feature Ladies Night Friday where the GreenJackets give it up to all ladies coming out to SRP Park on Fridays with prizes! Ladies Night is presented by: HD 98.3, Oliviana Ristorante, Palm Beach Tan, Pure Bare of Augusta and The Swank. The EDTS Cyber Drone Lights Show is going to be can't miss entertainment! Come experience being a part of history at SRP Park as the GreenJackets will be the first professional baseball team to host a drone light show.. It will be also be Feature Beer Friday and fans will get to enjoy a special at the Keg Stand Bar on Bold Rock Cider products. Kids 12 and Under after the game are also welcome to run the bases just like the GreenJackets! On Saturday the fun continues with State Farm Family Saturdays presented by State Farm Agents, Anthony & London Thuan, grab the family and head out to SRP Park! It will also be Faith and Family Night so come out and enjoy a nice not of worship and baseball! Soccer Night on Saturday will feature the First 500 fans receiving an Atlanta United giveaway! On Sunday the fun wraps up with Come out and enjoy a great Sunday Funday where the GreenJackets will have Pre-Game Catch on the field (1-1:30PM), Face Painting and much more to enjoy while at SRP Park. It will also be a Coca Cola Augusta Grill Set Giveaway to the first 1,500 fans. You can also pay to be part of the Father's Day Celebration Picnic. Treat your father to what he really wants, a nice day out at SRP Park with his family enjoying the Father's Day Celebration Picnic! For more information call (803) 349-WINS!
About the Augusta GreenJackets
SRP Park is the anchor piece of Riverside Village, a live, work, "playball" development which includes apartment living, senior 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.
 
2019 Augusta GreenJackets season tickets are on sale now. To learn more about the benefits and to get in on the 2019 action, visit www.greenjacketsbaseball.com or call (803) 349-WINS (9467).
 
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