CHARLESTON, S.C: The Fourth of July did not treat the Augusta GreenJackets (2-8) well as the Charleston RiverDogs overcame a seven-run deficit to up-end the GreenJackets by a score 11-10.
Augusta got off to a quick start by scoring twice in the opening inning on a two-run double by Brandon Parker to score Caleb Durbin and Brandol Mezquita and make it 2-0.
The GreenJackets would tack on two more in the next inning on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly by Cal Conley to double the lead to 4-0.
The scoring run would continue into the third as Augusta struck again on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Adam Zebrowski that plated Brandon Parker to increase the lead to 5-0.
In the fourth, Geraldo Quintero brought in two more runs on a two-run single, scoring Caleb Durbin and Cal Conley to push the Augusta lead to 7-0.
In the bottom half of the inning, Charleston would get on the board for the first time with an RBI double by Abiezel Ramirez to cut the deficit to 7-1.
J.J. Niekro led the charge on the mound for the GreenJackets by tossing five innings allowing just one run with six strikeouts with one walk.
The score would remain 7-1 into the bottom of the seventh but the RiverDogs exploded for a ten-run inning that included a go-ahead grand slam by Oneil Manzueta off the left-field foul pole to put Augusta behind for the first time as Charleston left the inning with an 11-7 lead.
The GreenJackets came back with one last come-back effort by scoring a run in the eighth on an error to make it an 11-8 game.
In the final inning, Augusta loaded the bases with two outs and scratched across two runs on a ball off the bat of Brandol Mezquita, which created an error to trim the deficit to one at 11-10 with the tying and go-ahead runs on the base paths. But the RiverDogs would survive as Stephen Paolini grounded out to conclude an epic game with the RiverDogs winning 11-10.
Brayden Theriot (1-0) was the winning pitcher on Monday night for Charleston with Antonio Menendez (1) earning the save. Miguel Peña (1-1) was the losing pitcher for the GreenJackets.
Augusta finished the night with just five hits but did draw 13 walks. Caleb Durbin scored four times in the game with Brandon Parker and Geraldo Quintero each picking up two RBIs on their hits in the first and third respectively.
The GreenJackets will enjoy Tuesday off before returning to the diamond to face the RiverDogs once again at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark with Jordano Perez returning to the mound to battle Austin Vernon for Charleston with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
