GreenJackets Come Up 90 Feet Short in 11 Inning Duel

GreenJackets Come Up 90 Feet Short in 11 Inning Duel

Augusta, Columbia took scoreless game to extra innings, Fireflies win 3-2

*North Augusta, SC* – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) dropped a pitcher’s duel to the Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals), falling 3-2 in 11 innings to their Palmetto State rivals. Columbia (15-16, 50-46) stranded the potential tying and winning runs for Augusta (14-17, 45-51) on second and third base in the bottom of the 11th, securing a nervy win in the series opener.

Luis Vargas made his third start of the season for Augusta, and did his part in breezing through the Fireflies lineup. Vargas held the visitors hitless through the first three innings, allowing two hits in the fourth, but finishing his outing in the seventh allowing only those two knocks and keeping Charleston off the board entirely. Ben Hernandez made his fourth start of the season for the Fireflies, and matched Vargas strike for strike, going six scoreless innings as well.

Estarlin Rodriguez pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Vargas, while Ben Sears pitched two shutout innings for the Fireflies, sending the game to the ninth inning scoreless. Again, the Fireflies and GreenJackets could not punch across the game’s first run, sending the game to extra innings knotted at 0. Jason Franks pitched a scoreless ninth for Augusta and allowed only the ghost runner to score in the 10th, and with Augusta down 1-0 and down to their final strike in the bottom of the frame, Tyler Collins stole third and scored on a throwing error to tie the game at 1.

For the first time this year, Augusta sent a game to the 11th, where Chad Bryant entered to pitch. Bryant ended up surrendering a leadoff RBI triple to Austin Charles, who would score two batters later to put the visitors up 3-1 going into the bottom of the inning. Cory Acton capped off his three-hit game with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame, scoring the ghost runner Tavarez, but Jair Casanova fanned on three pitches with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring positions to end the game with Columbia on top 3-2.

Augusta remains home this week for five more action-filled games with the Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals)! Don’t miss out on giveaways, fireworks, and more! To purchase tickets and learn more about the week’s homestand, 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. 2023 Augusta GreenJackets single game tickets are on sale now for the final four homestands. 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.

###