The Augusta Green Jackets’ bats caught fire early Friday night, leading the home team to an early 6-1 lead. Then they had to hang on for the 8-7 win, as the Charleston RiverDogs scored six runs over the last four innings to nearly mount another late inning comeback. The loss ended the RiverDogs five-game winning streak.

It got off to a good start for Charleston, as they plated a run in the top of the first against Augusta starter Logan Webb. Hoy Jun Park singled with one out, and two batters later Chris Gittens walked to put two out with two outs. A wild pitch moved Park to third and Jhalan Jackson then reached on an error that scored Park to make it 1-0.

The Green Jackets responded right away in their half of the inning. Seth Harrison drew a walk to get it started. Tyler Brown followed with a single and Dillon Dobson walked to load the bases. That brought Dylan Davis to the plate, who grounded out, but it was a productive out that moved each of the runners up 90-feet. Harrison scored on the play to tie the game. Two batters later Charleston starter Simon De la Rosa uncorked a wild pitch that brought home Brown to give Augusta their first lead of the series.

In the bottom of the fourth the home team extended their lead to five. Skyler Ewing led off the inning with his first double of the season and Jean Angomas followed by drawing a walk. Two batters later Manuel Geraldo grounded a single into left that scored Ewing and moved Angomas to third. A wild pitch by De la Rosa, his second of the inning, brought home Angomas and that would be all for the Charleston starter.

Cody Carroll took over the hill with his team losing 4-1 and immediately gave up two singles. Tyler Brown’s single to center loaded the bases and Dillon Dobson followed with a ground single into right that scored both Geraldo and Harrison. That made it 6-1.

For the next three innings the game remained with Augusta leading by five. Charleston would cut that lead to four in the top of the sixth by plating a run. Kendall Coleman singled with one out. After stealing second, Coleman scored when Radley Haddad singled into left to make the score 6-2.

In the seventh inning both teams scored two runs. Gittens got the inning started for Charleston by reaching first on a hit by pitch. Ryan Koziol was able to retire the next two hitters, but Thairo Estrada kept the inning alive by singling into right field. Gittens scored and it was 6-3. A base hit by Coleman brought Estrada home to make it a two-run game.

David Palladino relieved for the RiverDogs in the bottom of the seventh and walked Brown to start it off. After he stole second, Dylan Davis blasted his first home run of the season to extend the lead back to four.

In the ninth the Augusta Green Jackets looked to close it out, but so had opponents in four other contests this season, only to watch the RiverDogs mount a comeback. Charleston would not go down without making it interesting here either.

Jackson began the inning by ripping a double into left field and Kyle Holder followed with a single that moved Jackson to third. Estrada then ripped a single into right field, scoring Jackson and moving Holder to third.

With the tying run at the plate, the Green Jackets turned to Ryan Halstead to try to end the threat. Estrada greeted the new reliever with a stolen base that put two runners into scoring position, and Coleman singled into center, scoring both runners and making it a one-run game. The crowd was stunned and thinking that this was going to be another dramatic RiverDogs late game rally, but Halstead was able to retire the side and preserve the victory, 8-7.

De la Rosa (0-1) took the loss, while Kozoil (1-1) was the winner. Halstead earned his first save.

The Green Jackets took advantage of their opportunities, scoring eight runs on eight hits. Brown was 2-3 with 2 runs scored, and Davis was 2-4 with a run and three RBI.

The Charleston RiverDogs did not do as well with their opportunities. They knocked 15 hits, but left 14 on base. Coleman was 4-5 with a run and 3 RBI. Both Haddad and Estrada had three hits. Estrada scored two and knocked in two.

These two teams continue their series tomorrow. Brody Koerner (1-0, 0.00) will start for Charleston. He will be opposed by Grant Watson (1-0, 1.59). Game time is 6:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier