Lara’s Dominant Start Squandered as Augusta Bats Smothered in Loss 

Lara’s Dominant Start Squandered as Augusta Bats Smothered in Loss

Lara strikes out nine in five scoreless frames but GreenJackets held to two hits on evening

*Fredericksburg, VA* – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) dropped their fourth straight game against the Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals) on Wednesday evening, losing a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. Fredericksburg (21-22, 51-55) were held scoreless through five innings against Jhancarlos Lara, but Augusta (20-24, 51-58) gave up 11 hits and five runs from their bullpen as the FredNats took their second win in as many days.

The GreenJackets entered the Wednesday contest looking to keep the FredNats at bay, having been outscored in the last three games between the two teams by 37-12. The GreenJackets went in order against Luke Young in the top of the first, before Jhancarlos Lara wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the frame to keep the score even at zeroes going to the second. With two outs in the top of inning two, Jace Grady jumped on a first pitch hanging curveball and took it over the right field wall for his first professional blast.

With a 1-0 lead, Jhancarlos Lara got to work, and proceeded to dominate the hottest offense in the league. Lara would face the minimum in three of the next four innings without allowing a hit, capping off his outing with two strikeouts in the fifth. Lara fanned nine men on the day while keeping the FredNats scoreless, giving him an 11-inning scoreless streak going back to his previous start, the longest such streak for Augusta this year.

On the other side of the plate, the GreenJackets were equally silenced by Young, who pitched through the sixth inning for the first time this year. Augusta was held hitless aside from Grady’s blast, but still clung to a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth. Estarlin Rodriguez entered in Lara’s stead and got shelled, as he gave up six hits and four runs while recording just two outs as the FredNats jumped in front 4-1.

Nolan Martinez relieved him and pitched the remainder of the game, giving up one run on five hits, while Augusta’s bats remained profligate until Drew Compton recorded Augusta’s second hit of the game with two outs in the ninth. The Nationals recorded 11 hits in the sixth, seventh, and eighth, while Augusta was limited to two hits and just five baserunners all night.

Augusta remains on the road during this two-week trip to the commonwealth of Virginia to take on the Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals), before returning home for the final 12 games at SRP Park this year! 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. 2023 Augusta GreenJackets single game tickets are on sale now for the final homestand. 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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