(Story courtesy Noah Adcock-Howeth, Augusta GreenJackets)
KANNAPOLIS, NC: After six scoreless innings to start the evening, the GreenJackets used a series of walks and one well-timed wild pitch in the top of the seventh to take the lead, holding on late for a 3-2 victory in Kannapolis Saturday night.
Starters Rayven Antonio and Grant Umberger were dominant from the jump, making it clear runs would be at a premium for the duration of the evening. It was not until the bottom of the third that either side made waves, as Kannapolis played perfectly executed small ball to take the lead for the first time since Tuesday evening.
Nathan Archer began the run with an infield single, and Ely Brown and Jordan Sprinkle followed up with a pair of perfect bunts to load the bases. Antonio fell behind against Anthony DePino, and the righty cracked a sharp ground ball the other way for a two-run single.
Antonio would right the ship and post one more zero before ending his evening, but Umberger continued his run of dominance deep into the game. The lefty worked five scoreless innings before departing after a one-out single in the sixth, having scattered seven hits and totaled eight Ks on the day. Kevin Davis stranded the runner with a pair of Ks, holding the Jackets without a big hit once again.
Things unraveled in the seventh for Kannapolis, and it all began with a bloop single from Eric Hartman. Hartman promptly stole second and third, before John Gil walked and Cody Miller lofted a deep sac fly to put the Jackets on the board. Davis was pulled and replaced by Carlton Perkins, and even with two outs, Perkins struggled heavily. Perkins walked Dixon Williams and Hayden Friese to load the bases, before losing a battle with Colin Burgess that walked in the tying run. Perkins spiked a two-strike slider to Douglas Glod on the next at bat, and the pitch skittered away from the catcher to score Williams and put Augusta in front.
The GreenJacket bullpen continued its run of perfection, as three relievers held the Ballers at bay for the final fifteen outs. Samuel Mejia worked two hitless innings to secure his second win of the week, before Jackson Dannelley posted zeroes in the seventh and eighth. Trent Buchanan allowed a one-out double in the bottom of the ninth to make things even more nerve-wracking, but induced a pop up and a strikeout to secure the victory and his second save of the series.
The GreenJackets have now won seven consecutive games for the first time since August 2022, and hold the longest win streak of any team in the South Division all season. The bullpen has been especially dominant during this stretch, and have worked 34 consecutive scoreless innings as a unit. Augusta goes for its first sweep since 2022 Sunday with Jacob Shafer shouldering starter’s duties in the 1:30 p.m. matinee.
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