GreenJackets Score 15 Unanswered Runs in Final Innings, Notch Bananas Comeback Win

GreenJackets Score 15 Unanswered Runs in Final Innings, Notch Bananas Comeback WinAugusta scores nine times in ninth, comes back from 8-0 deficit to win bizarre Thursday game

*Charleston, SC* – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) erased an eight-run deficit in the eighth inning to the Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays), scoring 15 runs in the final two frames to pick up a monster comeback victory. Charleston (18-9, 45-48) had held Augusta to no runs and just three hits in the first seven frames, but the GreenJackets (12-15, 43-49) exploded in the late stages to pick up the improbable 15-8 win.

The RiverDogs entered the game on a six-game winning streak, having won 12 of their previous 13, while Augusta looked to break a four game losing skid of their own. Augusta starter Owen Murphy retired the first six men he faced, but ran into trouble in the third, giving up four runs on three hits while not recording a strikeout. Landon Harper relieved him with two outs in the inning, and gave up an unearned run to make it 5-0 RiverDogs through three. Not content there, Charleston hung two more runs on Harper in the fourth courtesy of Cooper Kinney, who drove in a trio of runs in the game, pushing the score to 7-0.

Augusta remained scoreless against the RiverDogs bullpen, while Elison Joseph pitched a scoreless fifth and sixth for Augusta, fanning five in the process. Former RiverDogs player Nolan Martinez came in for the GreenJackets in the seventh and gave up a run to make it 8-0 Charleston.

The GreenJackets finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth, when Bryson Worrell walked and then Cory Acton laced his second homer of the season to make it 8-2. Three batters later, Jair Casanova scored on a wild pitch to bring the deficit to five. After Jose Dilone singled and Tyler Collins and Ambioris Tavarez walked, E.J. Exposito cleared the bases with a two-out double to make it an 8-6 game. Martinez hung a zero on the board for Charleston in the bottom of the eighth to push the game to the ninth.

The GreenJackets entered the final frame trailing by two. Bryson Worrell began the inning with a double to right field, before Acton singled him to third. Jair Casanova blooped an RBI single to center to score Worrell, and put the tying run on second with nobody out. Jackson Lancaster entered in relief for the RiverDogs and struck out Jose Dilone but then walked Tyler Collins to load the bases. Collins then hammered a two-run double off the center-field wall, putting Augusta in the lead for the first time at 9-8.

The GreenJackets were not done there, though. Ambioris Tavarez walked to reload the bases, before E.J. Exposito roped a two-run single. Worrell popped a ball up that was dropped by the second baseman, scoring two more. Acton then followed with an RBI double before Francisco Floyd, who had entered eight batters previously as a pinch runner, tripled Acton home, giving Augusta the lead at 15-8.

Jason Franks pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, capping off a ludicrous affair in the Holy City. The GreenJackets set season highs in runs scored, hits, largest comeback, most runs in an inning, most batters in an inning, and longest time-of-game (3:23).

Augusta remains on the road this week against the Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays), with all games being broadcast on the GreenJackets Radio Network at bit.ly/GJRadio. They will return home on August 1st for a series with the Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals)! 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.

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