GreenJackets chain RiverDogs

With team leading hitter Brian Horwitz on the shelf for a week with a shoulder injury, GreenJackets manager Roberto Kelly went to his second option: Carlos Sosa.

Instead of batting fourth or fifth in the order, Sosa moved up to third and lit up Charleston's pitching staff. The Augusta outfielder went 2-for-4 with three RBI on Friday night as the GreenJackets knocked off the division-leading RiverDogs, 5-2.

"He's been swinging a good bat," Kelly said. "You always want your best hitter in the third spot."

After losing the first two games of the four-game series, Augusta managed a split. The GreenJackets (13-9) now trail the RiverDogs (14-8) by one game in the South Atlantic League Southern Division.

Augusta embarks on an eight-game road trip today, beginning with a four-game set at Greenville. The team will likely be without Horwitz during the trip due to a slight shoulder separation. Kelly said his team will have to step up to replace Horwitz's .363 batting average.

Augusta did just that, pounding out 10 hits in the series finale. Marcus Sanders, Jon Armitage and Simon Klink each had two hits, while the first seven hitters recorded at least one hit.

The team's offense overshadowed a strong pitching performance by starter Jonathan Sanchez and relievers Caleb Salankey and Brian Wilson. Salankey pitched three shutout innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-2.

The pitching got an early lead to work with after Sosa launched his first home run of the season, an 0-1 fastball from Christian Garcia over the left-field fence to give the GreenJackets an early first-inning lead. His solo shot marked the first home run by an Augusta player at Lake Olmstead Stadium this season.

"I see the ball well," Sosa said. "I know pitchers in the minor league throw a lot of fastballs."

Sanchez entered the contest with a 3.05 ERA, second-best in the rotation. He cruised through the first three innings before surrendering an RBI single to Edwar Gonzalez in the fourth inning. The next inning, Sanchez allowed a two-out RBI triple to Tim Battle as Charleston knotted the game at 2-2.

Salankey relieved Sanchez in the sixth and breezed through his first two innings. With Augusta holding a 4-2 lead in the eighth, the 22-year-old right-hander escaped trouble when catcher Steve Holm caught the speedy Battle trying to steal second. Salankey then struck out Cody Ehlers.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.