NORTH AUGUSTA – Davis Polo became the first GreenJacket in four seasons to surpass 100 strikeouts, keeping the RiverDogs leashed as the offense used two big innings to push Augusta (23-20, 58-51) past Charleston (25-20, 62-49) by a score of 7-2 Thursday night.
The effort was the latest in a line of strong outings for Polo, who has tossed quality starts in each of his last four games. Polo has now allowed just two earned runs in his last 26.2 innings, and has picked up the win in each of the games during that stretch. His seven strikeouts today pushed him into triple digits, making him the first man since Luis Vargas in 2022 to hit that platform in one season with Augusta.
Augusta’s bats got going against starter Aidan Haugh in the second inning, as the Jackets scored first for the first time this week. Augusta put six straight men aboard in the frame, with Caleb Klein scoring on a throwing error before Yamvier Carrero doubled the lead with a two-out single. With a multi-run lead already in tow, Junior Tilien smacked his first homer with the organization, capping the big rally.
Charleston’s only run against Polo came in the top of the third, with Angel Mateo hitting a solo shot to start the inning. Mateo has now hit four homers with the RiverDogs, and three have come against Augusta. Polo would allow just one more hit for the rest of the night, though, and smoothly sail to his fourth straight victory.
Augusta was unable to tack on until the eighth, when they finally broke through against Jeremy Pilon. Pilon allowed a walk and four hits in the inning, with RBIs from Cooper McMurray and Klein (who had a three-hit day overall) bolstering the lead.
Yander Pinero was the only reliever needed for the Jackets, working behind Polo to great success in his home debut. Pinero allowed a run on two hits, but carved through 2.1 innings, and earned his first Single-A save in the process.
With tonight’s win, the GreenJackets have snapped a five-game losing streak, and now can even the weeklong series tomorrow night. Landon Beidelschies toes the rubber for Augusta, while Jacob Kuhn starts against the Jackets for the first time after a handful of relief outings for Charleston earlier in the year.
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