NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: With the GreenJackets hosting the Lynchburg Hillcats for the first time in three years, Augusta scored early and often, holding the Hillcats at bay for a 7-2 series-opening victory.
Jeremy Reyes got the start on extra rest, and began his day looking unstoppable before falling apart all at once and departing early. Reyes struck out three of his first five hitters, flummoxing the Hillcats early on.
But Reyes misplaced his command after his 3rd strikeout, and gave up two walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases. A bases-loaded balk scored the opening run, and Reyes offered one more free pass before being lifted five outs in.
Jackson Dannelley emerged from the bullpen and got a groundout to strand the bases loaded, and the Augusta offense took control from there. Back to back singles to start the bottom of the 2nd threatened Hillcat starter Jervis Alfaro, and Jake Steels gave himself a nice birthday present with an RBI single to tie the game.
Augusta would not be content with simply a tie, and exploded for four runs in the 3rd for a big lead. Two walks, two hits, and two errors in the inning brought four runs across and chased Alfaro in his shortest start of the year, with Nick Montgomery and Douglas Glod getting the biggest swings in the inning.
Dannelley worked perfectly through the top of both the 3rd and 4th innings, and picked up his 3rd win of the year for his troubles. The Jackets would add one additional early insurance run, as Mason Guerra launched a long solo homer to make it a 6-1 game after four.
Samuel Mejia took over for Dannelley in the 5th, and found himself in a concerning similar situation to that which ended Reyes’ evening. Mejia walked four straight hitters to start the inning, with a caught stealing preventing a walked-in run.
Mejia received a well-timed visit from pitching coach Elvin Nina, and the veteran righty calmed himself enough to escape the inning, with a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a big strikeout halting the Hillcat rally.
After the concerning start, Mejia settled in brilliantly, celebrating a birthday of his own by working perfectly through both the 6th and 7th to keep Lynchburg hitless.
A sacrifice fly from Colby Jones in the 6th made it a 7-2 game, and all eyes were on the hit column until the top of the 8th, when Luis Merejo roped a two-out single past a diving Elio Campos to end the no-hit bid.
Mejia gave way to Trent Buchanan for the 9th, and while Buchanan made things interesting, loading the bases with no outs, there would be no magic comeback tonight.
Buchanan struck out Yaikel Mijares, and got Tommy Hawke to ground into a 6-3 double play, keeping Lynchburg scoreless in the 9th and snapping the Hillcats’ nine-game win streak.
The GreenJackets are a game out of first with two games to play, continuing to keep an eye on the results of the Columbia Fireflies as they look to chase down an improbably playoff bid.
Wednesday, June 18, poses a tough task, as the Jackets face lefty Melkis Hernandez, who has not taken a losing decision since April 12th. Righty Justin Militello will make his Single-A debut, immediately thrust into the fire in a must-win situation.
