Story courtesy Augusta GreenJackets. Photo by Mike Adams/Augusta Good News
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) withstood a Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays) rally in the ninth inning, picking up a 2-1 win after scoring twice in the first inning. Augusta (25-22) got a quality start from Spencer Schwellenbach, the first of his professional career, as the RiverDogs (18-29) left the tying run on second in the ninth inning.
The GreenJackets led from the third pitch of the game on, as Ethan Workinger hit his sixth homer of the season while leading off the game to get the night started. That same inning, E.J. Exposito drove in a run for the third straight game to double the lead.
Spencer Schwellenbach (W, 2-1), the No. 7 overall prospect in the Braves organization, made the start on his 23rd birthday. He certainly had that celebratory mojo, as he made it through six innings while striking out four and not allowing a run, and only allowing four hits, all of which were singles. He exited the game after six full innings with a 2-0 score, and was replaced by Jared Johnson (S, 1).
Johnson retired the first six batters he faced, striking out four. Chandler Simpson hit a triple to begin the ninth inning and scored on a wild pitch, making it a one-run game with no outs. After a pair of walks put the tying run on second and the winning run on first, Johnson got help from Justin Janas, who made a spectacular catch on a line drive and got to the bag to turn a double play. Johnson then got a flyout to right to end the ballgame and secure his first professional save.
The GreenJackets finish the month of May with a record of 18-9, their most wins in a single month in more than five years and far and away their most since joining the Carolina League in 2021. They led the league in May in home runs, OPS, slugging, and team wins, and have moved from fifth place on May 1 to second place on May 31.
The GreenJackets are in Charleston to take on the RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays) for five more games, before returning home for a 12-game homestand where they will take on Myrtle Beach (Chicago Cubs) and Carolina (Milwaukee Brewers), featuring a Vaughn Grissom bobblehead giveaway and a meet and greet with former UGA quarterback David Greene. For tickets, information on the meet and greet, and a full promotional schedule for the upcoming series with Myrtle Beach, click here: https://www.milb.com/augusta/fans/gj-homestand-preview.
