KANNAPOLIS, NC: After a series marked by quiet offensive performances, the GreenJackets decided to go out with a bang, slashing 14 hits en route to a 5-1 win and an avoidance of a series sweep in Kannapolis.
In the final game of a 12-game stretch away from home, the beleaguered roster had one final chance to avoid the team’s first sweep of the season. Things turned topsy turvy early, as Cannon Baller starter Nick Pinto was pulled from the game with an elbow injury three batters in.
Facing a bullpen that had dominated for five games but also had seen heavy usage, the Jackets opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as John Gil smacked a leadoff single and promptly stole his 20th base in 23 games.
Owen Carey followed with a single of his own, and gave Augusta the advantage.
As the Jackets attempted to wake up the bats, Rayven Antonio was keen on silencing those of the Ballers. Antonio, who was scheduled to start yesterday and was scratched due to rain, fired five scoreless innings as he secured his second win of the year.
The Jackets doubled the total in the top of the 5th on Gil’s first Single-A homer, and ensured a multi-run lead for Antonio’s successor.
Wynston Sawyer entrusted the back half of the ballgame to Luis Arestigueta, the originally scheduled Sunday starter. Arestigueta danced cleanly through the 6th and 7th, but ran into trouble in the bottom of the 8th.
After Augusta left the bases loaded in the top half, Arnold Prado kept the momentum with a leadoff walk. Arestigueta retired the next two hitters, but Javier Mogollon and Lyle Miller-Green singled in back to back at bats to cut the lead in half.
The stage was set for Nathan Archer, who stepped up against Arestigueta with two outs and both the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Arestigueta and he fought for seven pitches, but Archer popped up a high fastball behind the plate that Nick Montgomery secured to keep the Jackets in front.
With the lead still in place, Augusta set about extending in the top of the 9th. Gil led off with a double, his 4th hit of the game, and came home on another RBI knock from Carey.
Eric Hartman followed with a single that chased reliever Grant Umberger, and both men scored on RBIs from Isaiah Drake and Colby Jones. David Rodriguez tossed a scoreless 9th, and Augusta secured its first win in Kannapolis since April 14th of last year.
With the year’s longest trip in the rearview mirror, the GreenJackets head home for a much-needed day off. Up next for Augusta is a six-game homestand against the Hickory Crawdads, who have lost six straight games, but won four of six against Augusta in early April.
Kannapolis will remain at home to host the Carolina Mudcats, and the Jackets and Ballers will meet 12 more times, all in the season’s final month.
