(Featured photo by Mike Adams)
NORTH AUGUSTA – The Augusta GreenJackets opened their eight-game homestand with the Columbia Fireflies in a Tuesday matinee, falling to the Kansas City Royals’ affiliate 3-1 at SRP Park.
The GreenJackets sent out Adam Shoemaker (L, 0-1) to make the start on Education Day April 25. In front of a season-high crowd of 5,763 fans, more than 3,000 of whom were local school kids, the Fireflies picked up a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a well-executed double steal. The Fireflies tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth off of Didier Fuentes, who gave up three hits in one inning of work, according to a news release from the Augusta GreenJackets.
Fireflies’ starter Shane Panzini (W, 1-1) stymied GreenJackets’ hitters at the plate. Panzini went six strong innings without allowing a run. Panzini struck out six and only allowed five baserunners on two hits, both hits courtesy of Andrew Keck.
The GreenJackets got their lone run of the game in the bottom of the eighth, when Nick Clarno doubled and scored on a wild pitch. Cooper McKeehan (S, 1) entered in the bottom of the eighth and recorded the save. Cedric De Grandpre worked four scoreless innings in relief for Augusta, striking out six.
The Fireflies improve their record to 8-6. The GreenJackets fall to 5-8. On Wednesday, April 26, Jhancarlos Lara makes his first start of the year for Augusta, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The series will also feature two double-headers, the debut of the Pavos Salvajes jerseys on the first COPA day of the season, Star Wars Day and many more promotions. For tickets and the full promotional schedule, visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.
