*North Augusta, SC* – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) took a nervy 6-5 loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs) on Thursday at SRP Park. Myrtle Beach (6-6, 45-32) scored the winning run in the top of the ninth, while Augusta (6-6, 37-40) had tied the game up in the eighth but could not retake the lead. .
Nolan Martinez got the start for Augusta, with regular Thursday starter Spencer Schwellenbach headed to Seattle for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. After both sides went scoreless in the first, the Pelicans jumped out to a three-run lead in the second. After the Pelicans loaded the bases on a single, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch, Miguel Pabon drove in a run with a single to left before Pedro Ramirez got two runs home on a groundout that resulted in a throwing error.
The GreenJackets chipped into the lead in the bottom of the second, when Jeremy Celedonio and Jose Dilone each worked walks before a Cory Acton groundout plated the former from third. Augusta chased Myrtle Beach starter Marino Santy in the bottom of the next inning, when Dilone delivered a two-out single to chase home Justin Janas and E.J. Exposito before a wild pitch brought Celedonio across to hand the GreenJackets a 4-3 lead.
The Pelicans responded in kind, evening up the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI double from Miguel Pabon to force Martinez’s exit. Tyree Thompson entered with runners on second and third and only one out, and got a strikeout and a groundout to keep the score even at 4-4. Celedonio was hit by a pitch and Dilone singled in the fifth, both reaching for the third time, but Augusta could not bring them home.
In the top of the sixth, the Pelicans retook the lead on a two-out single from David Avitia. Augusta went scoreless in the sixth, before Thompson worked a seamless seventh inning to send the game to the seventh inning stretch with Myrtle Beach up 5-4. Thompson closed his outing by striking out the side in order in the top of the eighth, notching a season-high seven strikeouts and going 4.2 innings, his most in four years.
Augusta tied the game at 5 on Justin Janas’ fourth hit of the game in the bottom of the eighth, as he became the first Augusta player to record more than three hits in a contest this year. However, the Pelicans pushed a run across in the ninth off of Ronaldo Alesandro before Augusta left the tying run on first in the bottom of the frame to complete the loss.
The GreenJackets are home for the remainder of the week, taking on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs)! Promotions include a fireworks show on Saturday, Faith and Family night tomorrow, an appearance from Braves mascot Blooper, and more! To purchase tickets and learn more about this week’s homestand, visit https://www.milb.com/augusta/fans/gj-homestand-preview.
