Tavarez, Clarno Homer but RiverDogs Take Opener

Tavarez, Clarno Homer but RiverDogs Take OpenerLeague leaders Charleston win tenth in last eleven games

*Charleston, SC* – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) dropped their third straight contest, beginning a six-game set against the Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays) with a comprehensive 6-3 defeat. Charleston (17-8, 44-47) took the lead with one out in the first inning, holding Augusta (11-14, 42-48) to just two hits in the final eight frames to secure the win.

Augusta led off the game in style, with Ambioris Tavarez slugging the second pitch from Alex Ayala Jr. over the left-field scoreboard for his sixth homer of the season. It was Tavarez’ third homer of the last week and sixth of the season, but fellow top prospect Xavier Isaac made it count for naught when he returned the favor with a two-run bomb in the bottom of the inning off of Augusta starter Luis Vargas.

The teams would remain scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when the RiverDogs played some small-ball to extend their lead. A bunt single brought in one run, while a passed ball on another bunt attempt saw the fourth run score. Augusta went hitless from the second inning to the fifth, but finally got back in the hit and run category with a Cory Acton RBI double in the sixth to make it 4-2. However, the RiverDogs punched back with two more runs off the bat of Estanli Castillo to push the lead to 6-2.

Nick Clarno led off the seventh inning with a solo home run, his second in as many days, as the GreenJackets brought the deficit to three. Ronaldo Alesandro, who relieved Vargas with two outs in the sixth, dealt a scoreless seventh and eighth, but the GreenJackets offense would be powerless the rest of the way. Matt Wyatt secured the save for the home side as Augusta dropped their third in a row, and fourth in a row against the RiverDogs.

Augusta is 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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