NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: For the second consecutive season, the GreenJackets took the field as the Malmo Oat Milkers and lost, seeing an early lead slip away for a 4-1 defeat and an end to their four-game win streak.
The Oat Milkers identity stems from a league-wide partnership between MiLB and Oatly Oat Milk, where all 120 teams take the field in the alternate uniforms for one night only.
The Jackets have faced the Oat Milkers once before this year, and defeated their Myrtle Beach variant on the road.
For the second straight night, the two starters were stellar against the opposing offenses, shutting down any thought of solid contact.
Braylon Doughty went 3.2 strong innings for Lynchburg, with just one run allowed that occurred on a Jake Steels fielder’s choice in the 4th.
Rayven Antonio was even better, continuing his phenomenal first season in Augusta with 5.2 scoreless frames. Antonio worked around some early wildness to curtail the Hillcat offense at every turn.
Despite the great numbers, Antonio’s night ended on a sour note, as he was pulled from the game by the athletic trainer with a lower-body issue just shy of a quality start.
Adam Shoemaker was able to end the 6th scorelessly, but some uncharacteristically shoddy defense opened the door for Lynchburg to claw back in.
After a one-out single and walk set the stage, Colby Jones booted a potential double play ball at short, allowing all three men to reach safely. Jose Pirela beat out a fielder’s choice, and the game was tied at the 7th inning stretch.
Augusta’s offense could not solve the Lynchburg bullpen, as Donovan Zsak, Sean Heppner, and Conner Whittaker did not allow a hit from the end of the 4th through the finale of the 8th.
That gave the Hillcats a chance to take the lead in the 8th, and they obliged. Shoemaker surrendered three hits and two errors, including one of his own, to watch three runs score and give th road side a 4-1 advantage.
Whittaker did face some turbulence in the 9th, as the Jackets got the tying run aboard via singles from Roiber Niazoa and Steels.
Whittaker did not balk at the pressure, however, and punched out Alen Pineda and Colby Jones to secure his 3rd save of the year, and end Augusta’s four-game winning streak.
Saturday, June 21, the GreenJackets will try to host Star Wars Night at SRP Park for the 2nd time this year, after a rain-soaked May 10th game led to the delay of the themed jerseys.
Top prospect Cam Caminiti takes the ball in the galactic uniforms, looking to continue his short but dominant home career.
