CHARLESTON, SC: The GreenJackets carried a 3-0 lead at the midway point of Wednesday’s ballgame, but the RiverDogs scored in each of their final four offensive chances to steal a 7-3 win and equalize the series at one all.
Luis Arestigueta and Trevor Harrison were both fabulous early on, as the two starting pitchers traded zeroes through four innings despite some shaky command in the early goings. The two defenses also combined for three double plays in the first four frames, helping the pitchers keep the pace.
It was Harrison who blinked first, surrendering three runs in the top of the 5th to see his night come to an early close. With one out in the inning, catcher Colin Burgess tattooed a hanging slider for a solo homer, his 2nd in his last 4 games.
A walk, single, and wild pitch put two more men in scoring position with 2 outs, and Isaiah Drake delivered a big two-RBI single for a multi-run inning.
Charleston began their comeback bid, manufacturing a run against Arestigueta as he worked into the 5th for the first time this year.
Three straight singles were capped by an RBI knock from Larry Martinez, and Arestigueta was pulled with the bases loaded and one out.
Adam Shoemaker got the call out of the pen, and rose to the occasion by striking out top prospects Theo Gillen and Brailer Guerrero to keep Augusta in front.
Augusta was unable to do any damage against the RiverDog bullpen, as Jonathan Russell and Kaleb Corbett blanked the bats for 4.1 scoreless.
Meanwhile, the Charleston offense kept chipping away, using two singles, a sac bunt, and groundout from Ricardo Gonzalez to pull within a run.
Wynston Sawyer put Seth Keller on the hill for the 7th, and the righty ran into trouble immediately. Keller allowed two walks and two hits in the inning, the last of which tied the game, but a caught stealing and out advancing on the single kept the tie after seven.
Keller returned for the 8th, and fared no stronger against a rejuvenated RiverDog squad. After a leadoff groundout, Keller hit a batter and walked the next, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position.
Keller punched out Martinez to pull within an out of escaping, when Charleston turned to the bench for Angel Mateo, the team’s most productive hitter.
Keller fell behind 2-1, and grooved a splitter on the inner third that Mateo demolished high over the wall in left for a go-ahead homer. Charleston would tack on one more for good measure, and stun the GreenJackets with a big comeback win.
The GreenJackets have now lost 6 of 8 games, and have given up the game-winning run in the 8th inning or later in every loss.
The promotions of Jacob Gomez and Jacob Kroeger continue to have an adverse effect on the back end, and Augusta’s search for a replacement in the closer role continues.
On Thursday, June 12, the ‘Jackets look to bounce back behind Owen Hackman, facing another productive starter in Ryan Andrade.
