Story courtesy Augusta GreenJackets, photo of EJ Exposito by Mike Adams/Augusta Good News
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) opened their series against the Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays), utilizing stellar pitching to pick up a 5-3 victory May 30.
Augusta (24-22) was held hitless in the first four innings, but the bats awoke and Jorge Bautista picked up a quality start as Charleston (18-28) allowed 10 hits in the final five innings.
After David McCabe and Cedric De Grandpre were promoted to High-A Rome before the game, Jorge Bautista (W, 3-2) made his first start in the last three weeks. In the first, Chandler Simpson led off with a bunt before a stolen base and groundout advanced him to third, where a sacrifice fly brought him home. The game remained scoreless for the next three innings, with the GreenJackets failing to record a hit off of RiverDogs starter Alex Ayala Jr.
However, with Cade Halemanu in to pitch the fifth, the GreenJackets recorded four hits and drove home a trio of runs. Francisco Floyd, Ethan Workinger, and E.J. Exposito all contributed with knocks, as the GreenJackets pulled in front 3-1. Bautista gave up a run on a groundout in the sixth, but exited the game with a 3-2 lead after recording his first quality start of the season. The GreenJackets tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning, on RBIs from Tyler Collins and Floyd.
Samuel Strickland (S, 1) entered to pitch the in seventh, and after two and two-thirds scoreless innings the lefty gave up a solo home run in the ninth to make it a 5-3 ballgame. However, he retired the next batter to secure victory for Augusta in the series opener. The quality start for Bautista is the second of the season for Augusta and the first since Cedric De Grandpre recorded one against Myrtle Beach earlier this month. The GreenJackets did not surrender a single walk, and stole a season-high six bases in the win.
The GreenJackets are in Charleston to take on the RiverDogs for five more games, before returning home for a 12-game homestand where they will take on Myrtle Beach and Carolina featuring a Vaughn Grissom bobblehead giveaway, live music, and more. For tickets and a full promotional schedule for the series with Myrtle Beach, click here.
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