NORTH AUGUSTA – For just the third time this year, the GreenJackets lost a game in which they outhit their opponent, unable to turn their eight hits to more than one run in a 2-1 loss to the Hillcats.
Lynchburg’s only offensive production came in the top of the first, using a series of lengthy at bats to push a pair of runs across and chase Luis Arestigueta after just one inning. Tommy Hawke worked a leadoff walk, and scored on an RBI double from Welbyn Francisca. Francisca took third on a fly out, and scored on a fielder’s choice for the Hillcats’ second and final run of the afternoon.
Those two runs would be enough of a cushion for Lynchburg, as Jervis Alfaro’s second start of the week was notably stronger than his first. After being tagged for five runs in less than three innings, Alfaro held Augusta to just one run across five winning frames. The only blemish on his line came in the fourth, when Mason Guerra hammered a one-out double and scored on a single from Nick Montgomery.
Despite the losing decision, a tip of the cap is warranted to Augusta’s bullpen, as Jackson Dannelley, Juan Sanchez, and Samuel Mejia combined to allow just two hits in eight scoreless innings to keep the game within reach. The trio totaled 11 strikeouts as well, with five coming from Mejia in his second four-inning performance of the week.
The Hillcats’ bullpen was equally impressive, holding the Jackets at bay once Alfaro departed before the sixth. Logan McGuire retired all six hitters he faced, totaling five zeroes in two games this week. Augusta threatened against Julio Zapata in the eighth, using an Isaiah Drake fielder’s choice and another double from Guerra to put two aboard, but Zapata struck out Montgomery to evade the threat.
Despite walk-off wins on both Thursday and Saturday for Augusta, there would be no magic in the ninth Sunday, as Xavier Martinez retired all three men he faced en route to his first professional save. While Augusta still wins the series four games to two, the Hillcats win two of the three games played in the season’s second half, and build momentum as they enter the second leg of their 12-game road trip.
The GreenJackets are off Monday, before traveling north Tuesday morning to face a Fayetteville Woodpeckers team that had their number earlier this month. Fayetteville used a series of late rallies to badger the Augusta bullpen, and won five of six games despite trailing after five innings in every game played. First pitch of Tuesday’s contest will be at 6:35 p.m., with live radio broadcast of every game available at greenjacketsbaseball.com.
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