Posted: 7:57 PM May 14, 2012
Reporter: Staff Reporter

Monday, May 14, 2012

Augusta, GA – Elliot Blair’s fourth-inning RBI single provided all the scoring the Augusta GreenJackets would need in a 1-0 win over the Rome Braves in the first of a three-game series between the teams on Monday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

After Ben Thomas reached on an error to open the fourth inning, Jeff Arnold walked to put runners at first and second. Thomas took third on a double play ball and scored on Blair’s single to left to give the GreenJackets the 1-0 lead.

Kevin Couture (2-1) allowed the Braves leadoff hitter to reach against him in four of the five innings, but stranded runners, picked off a runner and got a double play to help erase Rome’s scoring opportunities. In his first win as a starter since July 23rd 2010, Couture scattered five hits in five scoreless innings, walking no one and striking out one.

The GreenJackets had numerous chances to add runs, but hit into four double plays in the ballgame.

Rome starter Rafael Briceno (2-4) takes the hard-luck loss for a Braves team that has now lost 13 straight and carries the worst record of any team in affiliated professional baseball at 6-29. Briceno allowed only an unearned run in six innings, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out two.

After Derek Law’s scoreless sixth inning, Steven Neff retired six of the seven hitters he faced in the seventh and eighth to get the game to Augusta closer Cody Hall. The South Atlantic League leader in the category struck out all three hitters he faced in the ninth to seal his eighth save of the year and hold the GreenJackets fourth shutout of the year intact. The win was also Augusta’s fifth one-run victory of 2012.

The GreenJackets will send Edwin Escobar (2-1, 2.22) to the mound on Tuesday in search of their second straight win while Rome counters with David Filak (1-2, 1.77). First pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1340 AM and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.

Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.

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