Augusta GreenJackets manager Andy Skeels sat in his office after Wednesday night's game against the West Virginia power pleased with his team's 4-2 win.

His optimism turned to amazement when he learned the Columbus Catfish had dropped both games of a doubleheader against the Lake County Captains.

In one night, Skeels' team had increased its South Atlantic League Southern Division lead by a full game and a half. The GreenJackets (34-17) now own a 41-game lead in the standings with 18 games to play.

"That's a great day," Skeels said. "That's outstanding. I'm going to have to call (Lake County manager) Aaron Holbert."

No doubt the GreenJackets owe a thank you card to the Captains, but the Augusta squad has helped itself all week long during the first half of their eight-game homestand. The GreenJackets have taken threein a row from West Virginia, and Wednesday night's victory lifted the home team past the Power for the best SAL record in the second half of the season.

"We've pitched real well for three games and had timely hitting for three games," Skeels said. "They're a good club, and they do a lot of things right. They're a team to be respected.

"I guess we've just done a few more things right."

The most recent win came on a night when the GreenJackets spread out their offensive attack.

Seven different batters recorded at least one hit led by shortstop Juan Ciriaco and his 3-for-4 day at the plate. Ciriaco, a native of the Dominican Republic who was sent to Augusta in late July, is hitting 6-for-12 in the series.

"I feel good. I don't know what it is about this place," he said. "I don't know why but here I hit the ball so good."

Ciriaco got the first hit of the game and scored on Dayton Buller's single in the first inning. Andrew Davis picked up an RBI with a triple in the sixth, and Ciriaco drove in Shane Jordan with a single in the seventh. Jordan also scored a run on an error by West Virginia's Lee Haydel in the sixth.

GreenJackets starter T.J. Brewer (8-4) got the win, and David Mixon pitched a perfect ninth inning for his third save. West Virginia starter R.J. Seidel (7-5) took the loss.