HICKORY, NC: After a much-needed day off Monday, the GreenJackets put their weekend woes firmly in the rearview with a wire-to-wire 6-1 win to open their series against the Hickory Crawdads.
The Jackets led from the first inning on, and never trailed after their fast start. Crawdad Caden Scarborough allowed a hit by pitch and walk to start the game, and Isaiah Drake took advantage with an RBI single for Augusta’s first lead since before the All-Star Break.
The key storyline entering the day was the return of Ethan Bagwell, who took the mound for the first time since being placed on the Injured List in mid-April.
Bagwell looked every bit of his old self, allowing just one hit in four innings with an unearned run his only blemish.
The GreenJacket offense was methodical in their extension of the lead, doubling the advantage in the top of the 3rd on a solo homer from Eric Hartman.
Hartman and Owen Carey each had three-hit days, and combined for nine trips aboard, three runs, and three RBIs.
With Scarborough removed after the 4th, the Jackets tacked on another in the first chance against Hickory’s bullpen, as Elio Campos singled, stole second, and advanced on a pair of wild pitches for a 3-1 lead.
Augusta scored two more in the 7th, on RBIs from Hartman and Carey in back-to-back at bats.
The win went to Adam Shoemaker, who continues to post solid road numbers with three more scoreless innings tonight. It’s Shoemaker’s first win of the year, and he and Albert Rivas combined to allow just two hits in five scoreless frames out of the pen.
Nick Montgomery added an RBI single in the 8th, only cementing an already near-certain win.
The GreenJackets are back in action Wednesday, July 23, with top prospect Cam Caminiti on the mound, looking for his first professional win.
First pitch is at 7 p.m., with Hickory putting Enrique Segura on the mound for his first game against the GreenJackets this year.
