AUGUSTA, GA: After the Hickory Crawdads elected to intentionally walk Eric Hartman to face Nick Montgomery in the 10th inning, the young catcher made them pay, hammering the first pitch he saw off the fence for a game-winning double.
The game winner brought to rest a chaotically played game where both pitching staffs allowed a handful of walks, but neither offense could capitalize.
The two teams were a combined 0-19 with runners in scoring position before Montgomery brought Owen Carey home from 2nd.
Both starters allowed one run and nothing more, as Luke Sinnard and J’Briell Easley each turned in four solid innings. Augusta opened the scoring in the first, as Colby Jones doubled to start the game, stole 3rd, and trotted home on a throwing error from catcher Ben Hartl (his first of four errors on the night).
The Crawdads equalized in the 3rd, with Erick Alvarez scoring on a sacrifice fly from Hartl.
After the starters gave way, both bullpens danced through fire on a handful of occasions, beginning with Jacob Kroeger in the 5th. An error and walk forced Sinnard from the game, and a fly ball moved the go-ahead run to 3rd.
Kroeger slammed the door on the ‘Dads by striking out Antonis Macias and Pablo Guerrero to keep the game tied.
Reibyn Corona worked a hitless 8th and 9th after Kroeger K’d a career-high six in three innings, while Augusta left two men on in the 8th against Alberto Mota.
Mota put two men on with a single and walk in the 9th, but Carlos Maldonado brought Jake Jekielik on, and the sidewinder retired Owen Carey on a ball that ricocheted off the pitcher and was handled by Rafe Perich to force extras.
With an automatic runner placed at 2nd to start the 10th, Augusta’s worries worsened when Luis Sanchez committed his 2nd error of the night to put men at the corners with nobody out.
Gomez has never been afraid of the big moment, however, and struck out Macias, Guerrero, and Yeremy Cabrera in succession to keep the game tied and bring the crowd to its feet.
Montgomery took the baton from Hartman after the intentional walk began the 10th, and saw just one pitch from Jekielik before bringing the game to its end.
Montgomery’s shot missed leaving the yard by about a foot, clanging off the top of the fence and sending Carey home as the rest of the roster mobbed Montgomery in the outfield.
The win was Augusta’s second of the season, both of which have come from a player in his first professional season. The victory not only evened the series at one apiece, it also kept the GreenJackets above .500 on the year.
Both sides will send potential aces to the mound tomorrow in a bid for game three, as Caden Scarborough and Jeremy Reyes square off on Thirsty Thursday at SRP Park.
