Nine-run 3rd inning helps Jackets win 4th straight

NORTH AUGUSTA, SOUTH CAROLINA: The Augusta GreenJackets (5-3, 41-35) scored nine-runs in the 3^rd inning on Thursday night in front of 5,388 fans at SRP Park. The Jackets took the series opener from the Lexington Legends (2-6, 39-38) by a final of 12-5 as Seth Corry earned his 2^nd win of the season after throwing five innings, and allowing three runs, but only two were earned.

The win was the 4^th straight for the GreenJackets as they are now 4-0 on the seven-game homestand.
The GreenJackets trailed early. Lexington scored a run on a passed ball in the 1^st inning to make it 1-0. GreenJackets starter Seth Corry allowed two runs in the 2^nd inning on an RBI-triple for Chris Hudgins, followed by an RBI-groundout for Rubendy Jaquez to make it 3-0 Lexington.
Frankie Tostado's solo home run in the 2^nd inning, his 12^th of the year, cut the lead to just 3-1. In the 3^rd inning, the Jackets chased Lexington starting pitcher Yohanse Morel with their biggest offensive inning of the season. With the bases loaded Shane Matheny tripled to give the Jackets a 4-3 lead.
An error allowed Matheny to score from 3^rd base to make it 5-3, then it was Zander Clarke with a bases-clearing double to score three more, and the Jackets had an 8-3 advantage. The Jackets offense scored two more when Munguia drilled a double to make it 10-3.
Jacob Gonzalez kept the offense rolling with a two-run home run in the 4^th inning. It was his 4^th of the season and extended the Augusta lead to 12-3. A two-run home run for Lexington's Chris Hudgins made it 12-5, but that was all the runs Lexington could muster up. Keith Weisenberg finished after four-innings out of the bullpen, allowing just two runs, and striking-out a season high six batters.
Player of the Game: Zander Clarke, 2-4, R, 3 RBI
Zander Clarke has produced since joining the GreenJackets. In the five games he has played in, he has a hit in each one, and Thursday was his first multi-hit game as a GreenJacket.
Tomorrow's Game: 7:05 PM vs Lexington Legends (Kansas City Royals), SRP Park, North Augusta, South Carolina
Pitching Matchup: (LEX) Zach Haake (1-4, 2.73 ERA) vs (AUG) RHP Keaton Winn (3-4, 3.82 ERA)
The GreenJackets will turn to Keaton Winn in the 2^nd game of the series with Lexington. Winn this year has consistently given the GreenJackets a chance to win. The right-hander has 52 strikeouts to only 14 walks for 2019, and he leads the team with 70.2 innings-pitched. Winn's last start came against the Kannapolis Intimidators on June 23^rd. He went 4.1 innings and allowed only two runs, despite walking a season-high four batters. Winn was drafted in the 20^th round by the San Francisco Giants in 2017, but decided not to sign and he returned to Iowa Western Community College for one more season. The following year, the Giants selected him again with their 5^th round selection.
Lexington will put Zach Haake on the mound. The right-hander was a 6^th round draft pick out of the University of Kentucky and was a college teammate of former GreenJackets pitcher Sean Hjelle. Haake has held opposing hitters to just a .159 average this year over 26.1 innings. He has not faced the GreenJackets in 2019. Haake has a career ERA of 2.15 in 46 innings on the mound.
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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