May 14, 2008

Rome, GA – The Augusta GreenJackets (23-17) needed 13 innings to beat the Rome Braves (13-26) Wednesday as Augusta came away with an 8-7 win. Brock Bond scored the winning run in the 13th and Daniel Turpen pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

With the score tied 7-7, Bond began the 13th inning drawing a walk then stole second base to get into scoring position. Garrett Baker then hit a line drive to left field and Cody Johnson misplayed the ball having it skip out of his glove allowing Bond to score and give Augusta an 8-7 lead.

Turpen (2-1) allowed two hits in two scoreless innings and allowed one walk while striking out one.

The GreenJackets tied the game at 7-7 in the eighth inning when James Simmons stole third base then came in to score on the throwing error from catcher Javier Dominguez. Simmons pinch ran for Thomas Neal after Neal connected for a one-out single.

Augusta had leads of 3-0, 5-3, and 6-5 in the game before the Braves took their first lead of the game in the fourth inning. Freddie Freeman connected for a two-out two-run homer to right-field for a 7-6 lead off of starter Craig Clark.

Clark worked four innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits for the no-decision.

Augusta and Rome traded runs over the first two innings and the game was tied 5-5 after two innings of play. The GreenJackets took a 6-5 lead in the fourth inning when Angel Villalona connected for an RBI double scoring Garrett Baker.

The GreenJackets and Braves finish their series Thursday night with Augusta sending right-hander Daryl Maday (2-2, 1.88) to the mound. The Braves counter with lefty Chad Rodgers (1-6, 4.13) as Rome looks to avoid the sweep. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m.

Game Notes:

The GreenJackets improved to 13-5 on the road this season and has won a season high six straight road games.

Augusta has won seven straight games against the Braves

Culberson has hit safely in seven straight games.

Angel Villalona finished 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs.

Andrew Davis, Garrett Baker, Thomas Neal and Nick Noonan all collected an RBI in the game.

The Augusta bullpen of Orlando Yntema, Joe Paterson and Dan Turpen combined for nine shutout innings and six hits.

Augusta batters struck out a season high 15 times.

The game time was 4:31.