Originally created 07/10/04

Jackets stuck in lull



The GreenJackets didn't get back from Greensboro, N.C., until 3:30 Friday morning.

It showed in their game Friday night against the Asheville Tourists. The Tourists rode the arm of starter Mark Kaiser for six innings and beat the GreenJackets 4-1 in front of a silent crowd of 1,592 fans at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

"We didn't make adjustments at the plate," Augusta manager Chad Epperson said.

The GreenJackets had four players go hitless and only gathered seven hits as a team. They lost their second in a row and have lost 11 of their past 13 games.

Epperson said the true test will be how the team responds in tonight's 7:15 game against the Tourists (9-6). The GreenJackets (4-11) will throw Adam Blackley, who made his debut July 4 against Capital City. He gave up two runs on three hits in five innings of a no-decision.

The Tourists got to Augusta starter Gary Galvez in the third. Hal Bibee doubled to right field and scored on Jonathan Herrera's double to left field. Herrera scored on a two-out single by Ian Stewart for a 2-0 Tourists' lead. Galvez got Christian Colonel to fly out to center field to end the inning.

Meanwhile the GreenJackets squandered plenty of opportunities to score. They left 11 runners on base.

Zach Borowiak knocked in the GreenJackets' lone run with a soft single over the head of second baseman Luis Guance. Scott White, who was hit by a pitch, scored from third, but it took a couple of fielder's choices to get him there. Justin McClain was responsible for one of them and he and Borowiak were left on base when Kevin Jordan grounded out to end the inning.

Catcher Jon de Vries got Galvez out of trouble in the fourth by gunning down back-to-back base stealers.

Montague and Gaetti hit consecutive singles, but both were thrown out at second by de Vries. Galvez gave up another run in the fifth on a wild pitch to give the Tourists a 3-1 lead. Reliever Arthur Santos, recently recalled from Lowell, gave up a solo home run to Jordan Czarniecki in the eighth to cap the scoring at 4-1.

Kaiser (7-6) gave up one run on six hits in six innings. Manuel Corpas struck out two in the ninth for his third save.

Galvez (3-6) pitched well for the GreenJackets. The right-hander gave up two earned runs on nine hits in six innings. He struck out eight and walked none.

"Outstanding. This guy was pounding the strike zone all night," Epperson said.

Reach Kristy Shonka at (706) 823-3216 or kristy.shonka@augustachronicle.com.

STAR OF THE GAME: Asheville starter Mark Kaiser gave up one run in six innings.

KEY PLAY: The GreenJackets stranded 11 runners and only managed seven hits in the game.

TONIGHT'S GAME: 7:15, Tourists at GreenJackets