HICKORY, NC: After an out-of-this-world start to the week offensively, the GreenJackets fell back to earth yesterday, tallying just two runs in a 5-2 loss to the Crawdads Friday night.
In front of the biggest crowd of the week, the GreenJackets’ only offense was found in the first, tagging starter Garrett Horn for a pair of runs before he could fully settle in.
Colby Jones led off the game with a bunt single, and took second on a walk. Luis Guanipa roped a liner to right, scoring Jones from second.
Two batters later, Nick Montgomery doubled the advantage with an RBI single of his own, his first of three hits in the game.
Once the inning flipped to the bottom half, it was all Crawdads for the rest of the evening. That was evident from the first hitter, as Yeremy Cabrera greeted Jacob Shafer with a leadoff home run.
A bases-loaded fielder’s choice from Cabrera tied the game in the 2nd, and although Shafer settled in a bit during his first start of the year, he was still saddled with a no-decision.
The Crawdads broke through for the lead in the 6th, scoring twice against reliever Samuel Mejia.
After a leadoff walk and pickoff error put Beycker Barroso at second, Cabrera kept his strong evening going with an RBI single to center, plating Barroso as Isaiah Drake’s throw flew up the line.
Maxton Martin followed Cabrera with an RBI double, giving a more comfortable advantage for the home side.
The GreenJackets could not keep pace with Hickory, as Horn worked three scoreless innings after the first before handing the ball to Thomas Ireland.
Ireland was untouchable, scattering two singles in five scoreless innings of work as he earned his team-high 7th win of the year.
The Crawdads received an additional piece of insurance in the 7th on a solo shot from Hector Osorio, which only certified the final result.
Augusta’s three-game winning streak comes to a close, and the GreenJackets were unable to pull themselves to a .500 record in the second half of the season.
The team still has a chance to take the series in Hickory, and send Rayven Antonio to the mound for a bounce-back opportunity.
