GreenJackets Score Early, Hang on for 5-3 Victory
With five runs in the first four innings of the game, the Augusta GreenJackets jumped out to an early 5-1 lead, then held on for the 5-3 victory. Kelvin Beltre continues to hammer Charleston RiverDogs pitching, going 2-4 to finish 5-10 in the three-game series with 2-runs and 2-RBI, and Nolan Riggs pitched brilliantly out of the bullpen for his first save of the season.
After a scoreless first inning, the Augusta GreenJackets took the lead in the bottom of the second against Freicer Perez. Brandon Van Horn drew a one-out walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second by Eduardo Navas. However, Perez walked Kevin Rivera to keep the inning alive and back-to-back singles by Ashford Fulmer and Anthony Marks plated Rivera to make it 1-0 Augusta.
In the top of the third, the RiverDogs got that run right back. D.J. Myers struck out Navas to start the frame, but then issued back-to-back walks to Diego Castillo and Estevan Florial. After another strike out, Angel Aguilar grounded a single to left field to score Castillo and the game was tied.
In the bottom of the third, Augusta retook the lead for good. Beltre reached on an error and stole second base. Two batters later, Frandy De La Rosa doubled to the wall in center to score Beltre. \ Van Horn grounded to Hoy Jun Park, who booted the ball then threw wildly for two errors on the play. That allowed De La Rosa to score and it was 3-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the GreenJackets extended their lead to four. Ashford Fulmer started the inning by laying down a perfect bunt that he beat out for a single. Perez’s throw to first was wild, which allowed the runner to reach second. A wild pitched Fulmer to third and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Marks. With two down, Beltre kept the inning alive with a lined single to center and he would score when Skyler Ewing laced a ball to the wall in right and legged it out for a triple.
Trailing 5-1 after four, Charleston would cut into that lead in the fifth. With Jose Morel now on the hill, Blake Rutherford doubled with one out and moved to third on a single by Park. Two batters later Brandon Wagner drove Rutherford with a base hit and Park scored on a fielding error on the play to make it 5-3.
That is as close as the Charleston RiverDogs would get. Morel would settle down and pitch 2.1-innings of relief before Sandro Cabrera finished off the seventh with two-thirds innings of relief to keep the lead intact. Nolan Riggs came on in the eighth and pitched two perfect innings, striking out 2 for his first save of the season.
Besides the big day from Kelvin Beltre, Ashford Fulmer also had two-hits and he scored a run. Anthony Marks drove in 2 for Augusta. For the Charleston RiverDogs, Brandon Wagner was 2-4 with an RBI and Carlos Vidal was 2-3.
The RiverDogs finally return home following their seven-game road trip where they were 3-4. They welcome the Asheville Tourists on Thursday night with Jio Orozco going to the hill for the RiverDogs. He will be opposed by Alejandro Requena. First pitch will be at 7:05.
By Robert Pannier
