(Story courtesy of the Augusta GreenJackets with photos by Mike Adams)
NORTH AUGUSTA – The Augusta GreenJackets opened at home on Tuesday night losing to the Down East Wood Ducks 6-5.
The GreenJackets celebrated their Millionth Fan in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,812, welcoming in the fifth season of GreenJackets baseball at SRP Park, according to a news release from the Augusta GreenJackets.
The GreenJackets sent 17-year old Didier Fuentes (L, 0-1) to the mound, where he became the youngest Minor League Baseball player in the last six years. He pitched 2.2 innings striking out four players in the process. A Miguel Villaroel single drove in two Wood Ducks in the second, before a Tyler Collins sacrifice fly made it 2-1.
Down East took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth before Augusta’s Ethan Workinger drove home a pair with a single. An inside the park home run from Cam Cauley extended the lead back to three, 6-3.
The GreenJackets got solid relief efforts from Cedric De Grandpre and Jared Johnson to keep the deficit at three going into the bottom of the ninth. After a walk by Workinger, Justin Janas delivered an RBI single to make it a two run game. A hit-by-pitch and a single loaded the bases, before Andrew Keck drove home a run while hitting into a double play. Seth Clark struck out Collins with the tying run at third base to secure the 6-5 win for Down East.
After the game, the GreenJackets celebrated their Millionth Fan, with local fan Ryan Schuchmann selected as the lucky number 1,000,000 to participate in the on-field contest. He went home with an exclusive GreenJackets prize pack and a memory that will last a lifetime.
The GreenJackets are back in action Wednesday against the Down East Wood Ducks at 7:05 p.m. with Adam Shoemaker getting the start.
Mike Adams has won multiple Georgia Press Association Awards for his photography.
