SALISBURY, MD: Owen Carey’s first professional homer brought home a trio of runners and put the game out of reach, as the GreenJackets outlasted the Delmarva Shorebirds 5-1 in the series opener.
Augusta got the offense early against starter Michael Caldon, loading the bases with two walks and a single before John Gil punched a two-out single into left for the first run of the game.
Both offenses stalled following the second, and there was never much of a start for the Shorebird offense against starter Riley Frey, who picked up his second win in as many starts. Frey took a no-hitter into the 5th, refusing to allow a run and punching out four in the victory.
Carey’s big swing was the climax of an exciting top of the 7th, as Augusta began the frame against reliever Cohen Achen with a walk and double from Carlos Monteverde and Douglas Glod.
After Gil struck out, Carey began a nine-pitch AB that allowed Achen to display his full arsenal, all of which Carey fended off. The 9th and final offering was a knee-high fastball, which Carey scorched down the right field line and into the construction zone for a 4-0 lead.
Albert Rivas and Trent Buchanan navigated the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings with little fanfare, while Nick Montgomery added a run via a single in the 9th.
But Buchanan struggled to find his final out, as Fernando Peguero looped a single into center to break the shutout, and Buchanan walked a pair to load the bases.
Jacob Kroeger came on for the final out of the day, and watched Steven Ondina slam a drive to the fence in left, ran down by Carey for a nerve-wracking final out.
With a bit more time to rest after today’s early start, the GreenJackets will go for back-to-back wins to start the series tomorrow evening. Luke Sinnard will take the ball for Augusta, while Chase Allsup throws for Delmarva in a matchup of top-5 round picks from the previous draft.
