GreenJackets Start Season with Sloppy Victory

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GreenJackets Start Season with Sloppy Victory

Stolen Bases and Defensive Miscues Define Season Opener vs Fireflies

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: For the second consecutive season, the Augusta GreenJackets squared off with the Columbia Fireflies on Opening Night at SRP Park and emerged victorious, this time by a score of 12-7.

A ballgame that featured 19 runs and 9 errors continuously kept the sellout crowd guessing, as Augusta mustered four different multi-run innings to overcome a strong Firefly start against GreenJackets starter Owen Hackman.

Hackman was given the Opening Day nod after a stellar end to 2024, but the righty struggled through 2.2 innings that saw Columbia scatter 7 hits and 5 runs (4 earned) to race out to an early lead. Leadoff man Asbel Gonzalez led the charge in his full-season debut, singling to start the game and promptly stealing 2nd and third to set up a first-inning run. Left fielder Brennon McNair terrorized Hackman early as well, doubling and scoring twice in the first three frames before Hackman was lifted.

Augusta’s offense woke up from its off-season hibernation early, posting a pair of runs against lefty Mason Miller early in his first professional start. Speed featured prominently throughout the game, and the 2nd inning was a microcosm of what could be to come, as Isaiah Drake led off with a hit by pitch and promptly stole second. Colby Jones followed with a single and steal of his own, and after a walk loaded the bases, Elio Campos poked a fielder’s choice that scored the first run. John Gil added an RBI single one batter later to tie the game.

The Fireflies tacked three runs on in the 3rd to chase Hackman, and utilized a pair of errors in the 4th to tack on a run against reliever Anthony Garcia. In the inning’s bottom half, the aforementioned walks and errors opened the door for the ‘Jackets. Campos reached on an E4 to start the frame, followed by a Gil walk and double steal that advanced them both. After a pair of quick outs, Eric Hartman worked a walk to load the bases, and rookie Owen Carey struck a huge blow off of reliever Henson Leal with a bases-clearing double off the TaxSlayer Terrace in left field to bring Augusta within one.

The Jackets tacked on three unearned runs in the 5th to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, as Columbia committed four errors in the inning. A two out missed fly ball in right scored Campos, who had reached on another error himself, before Nick Montgomery squibbed a grounder back to Leal that turned into a Little League homer when the pitcher fired the ball down the line in his haste, and the following throw to third careened off the stadium netting and into left field.

Augusta tacked on four more runs in their final two at bats, highlighted by Hartman’s first professional home run, a screaming shot to right that hopped out of the park entirely and into the Savannah River. Meanwhile, Garcia, Trent Buchanan, Jackson Dannelley, and Jacob Gomez would allow just one run in the final five innings to secure the victory to start the tear. Garcia took the win, while Leal was tagged with the loss despite not allowing an earned run.

The two sides meet once again tomorrow for the middle game of the three-game series, with GreenJackets’ righty Logan Samuels making his second professional start. Columbia will counter with Yunior Marte, looking for his first pro win to kick off his fourth professional season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 at SRP Park, with gates opening at 4:30.

About SRP Park/Augusta GreenJackets

The Augusta GreenJackets are the Single-A affiliate Atlanta Braves. 2024 Augusta GreenJackets Full, Half and 20-game season seat memberships are on sale now. To learn more about the benefits and to lock in your seat to cheer on the Braves of tomorrow, visit www.gjmembers.com or call (803) 349-WINS (9467).

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SRP Park is the anchor piece of Riverside Village, a live, work, “playball" development which includes apartment living, retail, restaurants, class "A" office space, and a Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. To learn more about SRP Park and hosting events and availability, visit www.thesrppark.com.

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