Jackets can't rally after being slammed

The scene was set for a familiar ending at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

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The Augusta GreenJackets trailed by two runs going into the bottom of the ninth inning against the Columbus Catfish bullpen, which had blown two in a row against the GreenJackets.

Augusta, meanwhile, was coming off its third ninth-inning win in a row and fourth in six games. But on Sunday afternoon, Columbus' Albenis Castillo slammed the door as the Catfish beat the GreenJackets, 4-2 to snap Augusta's three-game winning streak.

"It's been a good run, but you can't win every day with that recipe," said Augusta reliever Tim Alvarez, who pitched a scoreless ninth. "Sooner or later you've got to get ahead and stay ahead."

The GreenJackets accomplished the "get ahead" feat in the first inning, when Alex Requena led off with a triple and scored on a groundout by Marcus Sanders.

The "stay ahead" part was another story.

Augusta starter Jonathan Sanchez allowed runners in scoring position in three of his first four innings, but got out of each jam. His luck ran out in the fifth. Sanchez allowed a one-out hit, hit a batter with a pitch and then walked the bases loaded.

Reliever Brian Stirm was ready in the bullpen, but Augusta manager Roberto Kelly said after the game that he was trying to let Sanchez get the win if the GreenJackets could hold on.

Sanchez ended up throwing one pitch too many.

Designated hitter Lucas May sent Sanchez's next pitch sailing over the left field wall to give the Catfish a 4-2 lead.

"The only way I knew it was gone was when it made a loud boom against the metal wall," May said.

It was the first grand slam in May's entire baseball career, his fifth homer of the season and the ninth RBI of the series against Augusta.

"He's been swinging the bat well and he's been coming up with the big hits," Columbus manager Travis Barbary said.

The four-run fifth was all the offense the Catfish would need. After Augusta's run in the first, the GreenJackets left the bases loaded in the seventh, runners at first and second in the eighth and a runner at second in the ninth.

"We did have chances today, but we just couldn't get that big hit," Kelly said. "We were quiet today."

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

STAR OF THE GAME: Columbus designated hitter Lucas May hit a grand slam in the fifth inning to provide all of the Catfish's runs. His four RBI on Sunday give him nine in three games against Augusta.

KEY STAT: The GreenJackets went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

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