GreenJackets’ Win Streak Ends in Rome

ROME, GA—The Augusta GreenJackets saw their first winning streak of the year go by the wayside on Saturday night, dropping a tight 4-3 game to the Rome Braves at State Mutual Stadium.

The Jackets scored early as Dom Duggan walked to open the game and scored with one out on Mike Loberg’s RBI single. The lead was short lived as Rome scored three times in the third to take a lead they wouldn’t lose.

Joel Campusano knocked an RBI single through the infield and then with two outs, Gerry Rodriguez did the same. Stephen Shultz’s groundball got past Charlie Culberson at third to score the evening’s third Braves run, giving Rome a 3-1 lead. Gerry Rodriguez hit a long home run to deep left centerfield in the fifth inning to add another.

Augusta’s comeback started in the seventh when Wendell Fairley singled with one out. Johnny Monell - who entered the game after Matt Klimas was bowled over at the plate in the second inning - doubled to score Fairley from first. Dom Duggan singled to score Monell and advanced to third on a pair of throwing errors thanks to overthrows. Duggan - the tying run - was left stranded at third as Ryan Lormand struck out and Mike Loberg grounded out on the first pitch he saw to end the seventh inning threat.

Mike Loree (1-2) took the loss for Augusta in his longest outing of the season - six innings. He allowed four runs, three earned, on nine hits and no walks with four strikeouts. Zeke Spruill (3-0) earned his third win of the season to make him 10-0 in his professional career. Spruill tossed six innings of one run baseball on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts.

Benito Pruneda worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his sixth save of the season in as many tries.

Sunday afternoon will see the second game of the series with lefty Eric Surkamp (0-1, 3.27) looking for his first win against righty Jacob Thompson (1-0, 2.35). First pitch is 2:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on WRDW-AM 1630 and online at http://www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.

The GreenJackets will return home on Saturday May 2nd to begin an eight-game homestand with a 7:05 p.m. game against the Lexington Legends. You may purchase seats by calling 706-922-WINS or online at http://www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.