Jackets stay hot, win 3rd consecutive series

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA: The Augusta GreenJackets (55-47, 19-15) collected their third consecutive series win with a 4-3 victory over the Columbia Fireflies (39-61, 15-19) on Thursday evening at Segra Park. The GreenJackets now hold a 1.5 game lead over the Asheville Tourists for 1^st place in the South Atlantic League South Division, 2^nd half standings.

Trenton Toplikar earned his 2^nd consecutive win on the mound, while Jose Layer had a two-hit night, and a crucial three-run home run early in the game.
Layer has had a hot-bat in the month of July, and in his first at-bat he continued his great stretch of baseball at the plate. A three-run home run in the 2^nd inning gave the GreenJackets the early 3-0 advantage. Columbia responded the next two innings with two solo home runs.
The first home run for the Fireflies came off the bat of Jose Medina in the 2^nd inning, and the Jackets lead was shortened to 3-1. In the 3^rd inning, Columbia received another big-fly. This time it wasWalter Rasquin with a solo home run, and the GreenJackets lead was tightened to 3-2.
The Jackets grabbed another run for Toplikar. In the 5^th inning, back-to-back two out hits for Ismael Munguia and Simon Whiteman, put runners on the corners. With plenty of speed on the bases, Whiteman stole 2^nd base, and on the throw to 2^nd base, Munguia raced home from 3^rd base to score. The GreenJackets took a 4-2 lead.
Toplikar ended his night after six-innings and he allowed only two runs. Columbia tacked on a run in the 8^th inning. With two outs, an error on Munguia allowed the inning to continue. Medina came up big again for Columbia, this time with an RBI single, and the Jackets were clinging on to a 4-3 lead. But Sandro Cabrera grabbed his 3^rd save of the season by getting the final four-outs, and the Jackets improved to 15-16 this year in one-run contests.
 Player of the Game: Jose Layer, 2-4, R, 3 RBI
While Jose Layer got off to a slow start in 2019, he has turned things around with a big month of July. Layer is now hitting .313 in eight games this month, and he has two home runs, along with nine RBI's.
Tomorrow's Game: 7:05 PM @ Lexington Legends (Kansas City Royals), Whitaker Bank Ballpark, Lexington, Kentucky
Pitching Matchup: (LEX) TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs (AUG) RHP Keaton Winn (4-6, 3.40 ERA)
Keaton Winn will grab the baseball in the series opener at Lexington. Winn leads the GreenJackets with 92.2 innings. In his last start, Winn went five-innings and allowed one-run, while striking-out four on July 20^th vs Greensboro. Winn's issued just 19 walks this year compared to 71 strikeouts. The right-hander has pitched at least five-innings in 10 of his 14 starts this season. He was drafted out of Iowa Western Community College in 2017 by the San Francisco Giants in the 20^th round. He did not sign, and returned to school. The Giants signed him again in the 5^th round in 2018.
Next Homestand: Wednesday July 31^st -Tuesday August 6th
July 31^st -August 2^nd vs Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies)
August 3^rd -August 6^th vs Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers)
The Augusta GreenJackets return home on Wednesday, July 31^st to begin a seven-game homestand. The Jackets will welcome the Lakewood BlueClaws to town for Casino Night to kick-off the homestand. Fans can come celebrate Dodgeball night at the ballpark on August 1^st as we honor Average Joe's gymnasium and their Dodgeball victory from 15 years ago. It will also be Thirsty Thursday, which means $1 PBR and Natty Light's all night long. On Friday, August 2^nd and Saturday, August 3^rd, it's two of the most highly anticipated nights in GreenJackets history. The Jackets will transform into the Augusta Pimento Cheese wearing those slick Pimento Cheese uniforms that have had the Hive Pro Shop buzzing since the logo was released in June! Sunday August 4^th will be Little Rascals Night as we highlight another great film on this homestand. Monday, August 5^th will be a Bark in the Park Day so bring your four-legged friends to SRP Park and cheer the GreenJackets on. The last day of the homestand will be our Tuesday Brew & Q presented by Maurice's BBQ.  The GreenJackets will have a $3 special on beer and BBQ and there will be a Happy Hour Select Beer Special from 6-8 PM! It will also be Chamber Night for the Augusta Metro.
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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