NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: The Charleston RiverDogs struck early against Augusta, but a five-run onslaught in the 5th propelled the Jackets into the win column to start the week.
For the second game in a row, the GreenJackets scored in the first inning, kicking off the bottom of the first by manufacturing a run against Jayden Voelker.
John Gil slapped a leadoff single, and advanced on a ground ball. Gil stole third, and quickly came home on another grounder for Augusta’s first run.
Charleston, who entered tonight winners of 11 of their last 14 games, were quick to respond against Luis Arestigueta, tacking on a pair of runs to snatch the lead away from Augusta immediately.
After a three-base error put Connor Hujsak 90 feet from scoring, RBIs from Angel Mateo and Jose Monzon put the ‘Dogs in front. Charleston doubled the lead in the 4th, using a bases-loaded walk and sac fly to make it a 4-1 game in the 4th.
Despite being silenced for three straight innings by Voelker, the Jackets’ offense awoke in the 5th to chase the starter.
A walk and bloop hit put men at 2nd and 3rd with one out, before Jake Steels muscled an RBI single to cut into the lead. Luis Sanchez, who had entered in the 2nd for an injured Gil, rifled an RBI double to the gap to make it a one-run game.
Voelker departed the game after the double, and new reliever Engert Garcia immediately faced friction. Owen Carey walked, and Eric Hartman hit a game-tying grounder that knotted the game at four.
After another walk from Garcia, Alen Pineda celebrated his triumphant return to Augusta with a two-RBI single that put the Jackets in front for good.
Augusta’s bullpen was fabulous in the back half of the game, as Seth Keller and Reibyn Corona combined for five scoreless innings.
Keller continued his new tactic of featuring his splitter heavily, and did not allow a hit in 3.1 innings as he got his first win since July 30th, 2023. Corona recorded the game’s final five outs, picking up his first save of the summer.
The Jackets are now back above .500 on the year, once again sitting 2.5 games out of first behind the Fireflies.
A strong pitching matchup awaits Wednesday, May 21, as Top 30 prospects Luke Sinnard and Trevor Harrison duel on the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m.
