Ceballos Debuts in Flying Style as Augusta Hangs 11 on Sox in Win

*North Augusta, SC* – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) rode perfect debuts from Drue Hackenberg and Sabin Ceballos to victory on Tuesday over the Salem Red Sox (Boston Red Sox). The Red Sox (23-32, 53-65) were powerless against Ceballos, whose four hits and four RBI led the GreenJackets (24-31, 55-65) to their fourth straight win against the visitors.

The game began at 8:30 after an hour of rain delayed the start. Drue Hackenberg made his affiliated debut after being selected in the second round of the 2023 Draft, and instantly dominated. He sent down the side in order in the first with a pair of strikeouts, showcasing an impressive sinker and splitter. The GreenJackets jumped in front with Sabin Ceballos’ first hit, an RBI single which brought home Ambioris Tavarez from second base. Augusta doubled the lead in the third, when Will Verdung singled Magee home.

Hackenberg’s debut came to an end after 2.2 innings of hitless work, striking out five and only issuing one walk. Luis Vargas entered and surrendered two runs in the top of the fourth, tying up the game at 2-2. However, Augusta exploded in the bottom of the fourth, sending 11 men to the plate and bringing six home. The key at-bats came with bases loaded walks from Will Verdung and Jace Grady, before Kade Kern doubled a pair of runs home to cap off the outburst with Augusta leading 8-2.

That score would hold until homers from Salem’s Stanley Tucker and Jhonfrank Salazar plated five for the visitors in the seventh to make it an 8-7 game. LJ McDonough entered for his debut and pitched a scoreless eighth, before Sabin Ceballos capped off his day with a two-run single in the bottom of the frame before scoring on a wild pitch to push the Augusta lead to 11-7. Salem did score twice in the top of the ninth, but Giomar Diaz wrapped up the game with his first career save as Augusta wound up victorious, 11-9.

McDonough picked up the win in his debut, while fellow debutant Sabin Ceballos won plaudits for his 4-4, 4RBI performance, reaching five times.

Augusta wraps up the 2023 home slate this week! The GreenJackets take on the Salem Red Sox from Tuesday until Sunday in the last home series of the season. Don’t miss out on your final chance to see the 2023 GreenJackets in action! To purchase tickets and learn more about the upcoming promotions, games, and more, visit https://www.milb.com/augusta/fans/gj-homestand-preview..

About SRP Park/Augusta GreenJackets

The Augusta GreenJackets are the Single-A affiliate Atlanta Braves. 2024 Augusta GreenJackets season tickets are now on sale. 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). For tickets, team merchandise, and more information visit www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.

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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