After one inning of work on Monday night, Daryl Maday already had more support than his three previous starts combined.
It must have felt good for a change.
Augusta gave Maday, a South Atlantic League All-Star, the most run support of any of his starts this season in a 5-4 win over Greenville.
In a season-high seven innings, the right-hander gave up five hits, four walks and two earned runs. He evened his record at 4-4.
In Maday's four previous starts, Augusta (24-23) combined to score six runs. Twice the GreenJackets scored one or not at all.
It didn't take long to see that wasn't going to happen Monday. Nick Noonan and Angel Villalona each hit two-run homers in the first inning. Noonan smacked his on the first pitch he saw.
Maday, a 30th-round selection out of the University of Arkansas in 2006, put at least two runners on in three of the first four innings, but he skirted trouble each time.
"One of the things about a good pitcher, is that even when you don't have your best stuff, you still battle, give your team a chance to win," GreenJackets manager Andy Skeels said.
Before his first start, on May 9, Maday made eight appearances out of the bullpen. In five starts he's given up two, three, two, one, and one earned runs.
"As you can see, he was a guy we wanted in our rotation," Skeels said.
First baseman Thomas Neal, who reached base in all four plate appearances, doubled in the only other GreenJackets run with one out in the third. It proved to be the difference when Augusta's bullpen gave up a run in both the eighth and ninth innings.
All-star closer Daniel Otero struck out Jered Stanley with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his 15th save.
Third baseman Skyler Stromsmoe, up from extended spring training, made his debut Monday night. He started at third base, reached base twice (single, walk) and made four putouts.
Villalona, a designated hitter listed at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, probably wouldn't win a footrace against any teammate, yet he hustled down the line for an infield single in the seventh.
Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com.
3 NAMED ALL-STARS
The Augusta Green-Jackets' All-Star presence has been limited to the mound for the second year in a row.
Augusta will send three pitchers to the South Atlantic League All-Star game after rosters for both teams were announced Monday. Starters Madison Bumgarner and Daryl Maday and closer Daniel Otero made the Southern Division roster.
Bumgarner, the top pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2007, leads the GreenJackets in wins and is second in innings pitched and ERA. Maday has gone 2-1 with a 1.13 ERA since moving from the bullpen. Otero ranks third in the league with 14 saves and has yet to allow a run in 22q innings pitched.
Manager Andy Skeels will be one of the coaches at the game, which will be held June 17 in Greensboro, N.C.
-- Staff Reports
icon.
