(Story courtesy Augusta GreenJackets)
NORTH AUGUSTA – In the start of the final homestand of the year, the Augusta GreenJackets (29-25, 64-56) left ten men on base, including seven in the final four frames, to fall to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (19-35, 46-72) 5-4 Tuesday night.
In what has been a recurring theme over the last two weeks, Augusta continuously put themselves in advantageous spots, but lacked the big hit to take advantage. The GreenJackets were 1-11 with runners in scoring position, marking the sixth time in the last eight games they have one hit or less in those spots across nine innings.
On the pitching side, Derek Vartanian continued his impressive season with yet another quality start, his team-leading eighth of the season. Vartanian struck out seven men as he allowed three runs in six innings, and joined Davis Polo as the only GreenJacket pitchers in the last four years to strike out at least 100 batters in a season.
Augusta opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with an RBI double from Cooper McMurray, before young starter Jubrayker Salaya settled in. After a rough start last week, Salaya did not allow a hit after the first, powering through four innings while his offense took the lead against Vartanian.
The Jackets tied the game in the middle innings as soon as Salaya departed, scoring in each of the two innings tossed by Julio Valdez in relief. Caden Merritt cut the lead in half in the fifth with an RBI double of his own, and one inning later, it was Merritt again, working a bases loaded walk with two outs to knot the game up at three.
Despite Merritt’s efforts, Augusta was unable to reclaim the lead, stranding the bases loaded in the sixth against Jordan Henriquez, then leaving men at second and third in the eighth as Henriquez battled through the final few frames. It was in the top of the ninth when the Pelicans reclaimed the lead, as Jan Reyes punched a two-out single the other way to score a pair against Styven Paez. Paez, who did not have a losing decision in his first 28 games of the year, now has two in his last two outings, both after entering a tie game in the final two innings.
The GreenJackets did show fight in the bottom of the ninth, bringing the winning run to the plate with two outs. Juan Mateo clubbed a solo homer off of Henriquez to slash the deficit, and Nick Montgomery poked a single into center field before Henriquez punched out McMurray to end the rally and secure the win for the visitors.
With tonight’s win, the Pelicans snap a six-game losing streak, and hand the GreenJackets a series-opening loss at home for the second time in as many tries. On Wednesday, the last homestand of the year continues, as Yander Pinero makes his first home start as a GreenJacket to try to keep the Pelicans at bay.
