Augusta Ends Losing Skid with an Impressive Performance

For Immediate Release

GreenJackets Media Contact: Mitchell Speltz

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GreenJackets Top Pelicans on Saturday Night

Augusta Ends Losing Skid With an Impressive Performance

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: The Augusta GreenJackets (10-17) put their losing streak to bed on Saturday night as they used a strong, all-around effort to defeat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (16-13) by a score of 6-4.

Myrtle Beach went ahead early by scoring in the first inning for the second straight night with an RBI double by Kevin Alcantara to put the Pelicans in front 1-0 after an inning of play.

The GreenJackets would then make their move in the third inning as they scored two runs on a ball off the bat of Brandol Mezquita. His hit brought in Eliezel Stevens, but the throw back into the infield got away from the Pelicans, resulting in Geraldo Quintero scoring as well to give Augusta their first lead at 2-1.

The Pelicans would counter with a home run in the top half of the fourth by Jacob Wetzel to even the game at two.

But the GreenJackets would counterpunch in the bottom of the frame as they snatched the lead back on an RBI single by Connor Blair with two outs to make it 3-2 Augusta. A few batters later, Geraldo Quintero sent a deep fly to the wall in right-center field to score both Blair and Eliezel Stevens on his triple to push the GreenJackets' lead to 5-2.

In the top of the fifth, Myrtle Beach would make some noise as they scored a pair of runs on a two-run double by Josue Huma to cut the lead down to one at 5-4. But AJ Smith-Shawver would dig deep and allow no further damage as he completed his fifth inning with a one-run lead still in hand.

The Augusta bullpen helped shut down the Pelicans for the rest of the night as Miguel Peña overcame a pair of walks in the sixth and a leadoff hit in the seventh to toss consecutive scoreless innings.

Ronaldo Alesandro entered for him in the eighth and took care of business by putting down the Pelicans in order, taking the contest to the bottom of the eighth still 5-4 in favor of the GreenJackets.

A half inning later, Augusta would manufacture a key insurance run on a groundout by Adam Zebrowski to score Brandol Mezquita, making it a 6-4 game.

In the ninth, Alesandro picked up where he left off by retiring the side in order with two strikeouts and a groundout to end the game, completing a 6-4 win on Saturday night over the Pelicans.

AJ Smith-Shawver (3-4) earned his second consecutive win on the mound with Ronaldo Alesandro (2) picking up his second, six-out save of the season. Myrtle Beach starter Didier Vargas (0-1) took the loss for the Pelicans.

Geraldo Quintero was the main cog offensively for the GreenJackets on Saturday as the third basemen contributed two hits and scored a run with his three-bagger in the fourth giving Augusta their largest lead of the game. Brandol Mezquita, Connor Blair, and Adam Zebrowski each chipped in an RBI of their own helping Augusta take game five of the series.

The series finale between the GreenJackets and Pelicans is on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m., featuring the same pitching matchup as the opener with Sam Strickland facing Angel Rodriguez for Myrtle Beach.

The homestand concludes with Princess and Villains night on Sunday where fans are encouraged to come dress as their favorite princess or villain! along with Sunday FUNday and Bark at the Park!

About SRP Park/Augusta GreenJackets

The Augusta GreenJackets are the Carolina League Single-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves playing in the state of the art SRP Park located in North Augusta, SC. The GreenJackets 2022 Game and promotional schedule is out and available online at www.GreenJacketsBaseball.com. 2022 Augusta GreenJackets season seat memberships are on sale now. To learn more about the benefits and to get in on the action, visit www.gjmembers.comor call (803) 349-WINS (9467).

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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