(Story courtesy Augusta GreenJackets. File photo by Mike Adams)
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The Augusta GreenJackets gave up seven runs in the first inning to the Fredericksburg Nationals, eventually falling 13-5 in an inauspicious start to their six-game series. Fredericksburg (20-22, 50-55) led wire-to-wire, while Augusta (20-23, 51-57) had a three-game win streak snapped.
Fredericksburg entered the series on a four-game losing skid, although they had scored six or more runs in each game last week. Meanwhile, Augusta had won three straight, although all were close games in Salem. However, it was the home FredNats who wasted no time, as they teed off on Augusta starter Luis Vargas in the first. Fredericksburg brought a run in with the bases loaded on a sacrifice fly, and with two men out Vargas was within inches of escaping the inning. Instead, the home side scored six more runs with two outs, sparked by a Leandro Emiliani double, chasing Vargas in the process as Augusta brought in Giomar Diaz.
Augusta, down 7-0 after one, would score twice in the second without recording a hit, as Tyler Collins drew an RBI walk and Ambioris Tavarez earned an RBI hit-by-pitch. Emiliani drove in a run with a groundout for the FredNats to make the score 8-2 through two. Collins drove in another Augusta run with a groundout of his own in the fourth, but the Nationals remained comfortably in front. The GreenJackets closed the gap in the fifth with a Jace Grady sacrifice fly and a double steal of second base and home, but that would be it for Augusta’s offense with the score 8-5.
The home side padded their lead with four more runs in the sixth and one run in the eighth, as Augusta went deep into their bullpen, using five arms on the day. The GreenJackets surrendered a season-high 12 walks while also hitting four men, keeping the FredNats aboard the bases in a fruitful night for the home side.
Augusta remains on the road during this two-week trip to the commonwealth of Virginia to take on the Fredericksburg Nationals, before returning home for the final 12 games at SRP Park this season. To purchase tickets and learn more about the upcoming promotions, games, and more, visit https://www.milb.com/augusta/fans/gj-homestand-preview.
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