*Columbia, SC* – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) rode a six-run fifth inning to victory on a muggy Friday night against the Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals). Columbia (4-2, 39-32) surrendered 10 runs or more for the first time this season, while Augusta (3-3, 34-37) scored their highest run total of the year to take the series lead. Tyler Collins drove home four runs, a career high, while every Augusta batter reached base in the 12-5 victory.
The Fireflies sent out Frank Mozzicato (L, 2-5), the #1 overall prospect in the Royals organization and Carolina League leader in ERA, as their Friday night starter. Mozzicato retired the GreenJackets in order, before a bunt single, an error, and a walk loaded the bases for the Fireflies in the bottom of the frame against Augusta starter and fellow top prospect Owen Murphy (W, 3-2). However, Murphy induced three popups to keep the score at zero through one inning.
In the top of the second, Bryson Worrell singled to begin the frame before Mozzicato fanned the next two GreenJackets. However, Andrew Keck and Cory Acton each worked two-out walks before Tyler Collins hit a two-strike pitch into right field to plate a pair of runs. Ambioris Tavarez and Justin Janas each followed with RBI singles, chasing Mozzicato and putting Augusta up 4-0. E.J. Exposito singled Tavarez home against reliever Wesley Scott to cap the five-run frame. Collins drove home another run in the third to make it 6-0.
Owen Murphy continued to blank the Fireflies through four innings. In the top of the fifth, Augusta drew five consecutive walks before making an out, with Collins and Tavarez each notching RBIs on the free passes. Janas then drove home his second run of the game with a forceout before Worrell hit a three-run homer to left, marking a six-run inning and putting the Jackets up 12-0. The six runs in a frame matched their largest single-inning tally on the season.
Murphy finished off his outing by making it through the fifth, putting himself in line for the win. In his last two outings, Murphy has gone 11.2 innings and only surrendered one run while fanning 18. The Fireflies got a solo home run in the sixth from Erick Peña and added four more in the seventh, but the GreenJackets rode their highest run total of the season to victory, coasting to a 12-5 decision.
The GreenJackets continue their road trip tomorrow at Columbia (Kansas City Royals), before returning to SRP Park for a 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza! For tickets and more, go to greenjacketsbaseball.com.
