The rubber game of a five-game series at Lake Olmstead Stadium between the GreenJackets and the South Atlantic League South Division's first-half champs went to the home team on Monday night, as Augusta secured an 8-3 win over the Asheville Tourists.

The GreenJackets capitalized on five Asheville errors and got another strong outing from starter T.J. Brewer to earn a 3-2 series win.

"The key is always winning series," GreenJackets manager Andy Skeels said. "It's important for us to win series like this. So I was pleased with the effort overall."

Brewer was the fourth GreenJackets starter in the series to go at least six innings and give up two or fewer earned runs. He took a one-hit shutout into the seventh before giving up a leadoff homer to Darin Holcombe. It was Brewer's only blemish on an otherwise ideal outing.

"For tonight, I was really pleased with Mr. Brewer," Skeels said. "That's one of the best hitting teams in the league. I think tonight was something he's capable of doing more often."

Brewer got plenty of run support from a team that outscored Asheville 18-13 in the five-game series. On Monday night, Augusta benefitted from an Asheville defense that made too many mistakes. Three of the Tourists' errors came in a four-run third inning.

The most costly error occurred when shortstop Everth Cabrera let a Thomas Neal grounder slip past his glove with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third. Two runs scored on the play. Another runner came around when Asheville pitcher Cory Riorden tried to pick off Neal at first but threw the ball into right field -- another error. Garrett Baker scored on that play, and Neal came around later in the inning on an RBI double from Jackson Williams for a 4-0 lead.

Baker, Shane Jordan and Brock Bond drove in runs later in the game, and another came in on a wild pitch to complete the GreenJackets' highest run total since the All-Star break.

Williams went 4-for-8 in the series with two RBI and five walks. GreenJackets second baseman Nick Noonan went 7-for-17 in four games against Asheville, with four doubles and three RBI. Neal went 4-for-9 over the final two games of the series.

"We just wanted to come out and try to send a message early," Neal said. "We feel like we're one of the better teams in the league."