KANNAPOLIS, NC: John Gil’s power surge continued Thursday night, as the 19-year-old infielder launched his 3rd home run in his last four starts as part of an all-around day in a 5-1 win over Kannapolis.
For the fifth straight game, the GreenJackets scored in the first inning, chasing starter Kaleb Sophy after just one out recorded. Sophy struggled with command right out of the gate, hitting Eric Hartman before walking John Gil.
Hartman swiped second and third, and sprinted home on a wild pitch for the game’s first run. Sophy walked two more to load the bases and end his night, but reliever Jake Peppers induced an inning-ending double play to finish the threat.
The Jackets doubled the lead against Peppers in the third, as Gil began the frame with an eight-pitch at bat that culminated in a laser of a home run onto the berm beyond left field.
Gil now has five homers this season, more than he had in his first two years as a pro combined.
The Cannon Ballers made their lone foray onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, after being held in check by Kendy Richard through the first two innings.
Grant Magill worked a one-out walk from the nine spot, and advanced to second on a base hit from Ely Brown. A Jordan Sprinkle fielder’s choice retired Magill at third, but George Wolkow roped a two-strike fastball back up the middle to score Brown from second and pull the Ballers within one.
Augusta answered right back in the very next half inning, as new reliever Jake Curtis was rudely greeted by the bottom of the order. Joe Olsavsky hooked a one-out double down the left field line, and scored on Douglas Glod’s own double to get the run right back.
Dallas Macias’ first pro hit moved Glod to third, and Douglas would hustle home on a sac fly from Hartman. Gil stayed hot with an RBI double of his own, bringing the lead to 5-1, where it would stay the rest of the night.
Richard worked one more inning before handing the ball off to Owen Hackman, and the right hander made good use of his second relief outing of the year.
Hackman worked 3.2 scoreless innings, earning his 3rd win of the season as a result. Trent Buchanan took care of the game’s final four outs, and the bullpen finished the game scorelessly for the fifth consecutive contest.
The GreenJackets have now won five straight games for the first time since May, and look to tie their longest win streak of the year Friday, Aug. 15, with Jeremy Reyes on the mound.
Reyes matches up with Ricardo Brizuela, who is still searching for his first win after an 0-9 start to the year.
