Series win lands Jackets in second

After relying on the bottom half of the order for run production in the first three games of their series against the Columbus Catfish, the Augusta GreenJackets got some help from the top Thursday night.

The first three batters in the lineup - Kyle Haines, Marcus Sanders and Brian Horwitz - drove in a single run apiece in succession in the second inning and Sanders scored on an error in the fifth to give the GreenJackets a 4-3 win at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

The GreenJackets (24-21) took over sole possession of second place in the South Atlantic League Southern Division with a 3-1 series win against the Catfish (22-22).

Haines, playing in his 15th game with the GreenJackets after being sent down from high-Class A San Jose, was the only Augusta player to record more than one hit. The switch hitter singled in his first two at bats and picked up his seventh RBI in the second inning.

"Some guys got on in front of me in my second at-bat and were able to put some pressure on the pitcher and bring me some good pitches to hit," Haines said.

Sanders followed Haines' single to right with a sacrifice fly to left field, and Horwitz improved his hitting streak to 20 games with an RBI single to left for a 3-0 Augusta lead. Horwitz has reached base safely in his past 29 games.

Jonathan Sanchez started on the mound for the GreenJackets and struck five Catfish in the first 2Q innings.

The left-hander ran into a little trouble in the third, issuing two walks and an RBI double while throwing 28 pitches. Sanchez struck out two more in the fourth, but needed 29 pitches to get through the inning.

"He had no problems throwing the ball," catcher Nick Conte said. "Sometimes he hit little spells where it's tough to locate, but he recovered fine."

Sanchez struck out seven and only allowed one run, but was pulled after four innings because he had already thrown 90 pitches.

Right-hander Sean Martin (5-1) began the fifth inning and retired the first two batters he faced. Sergio Pedroza erased the two-run deficit two batters later with a homer to right center to tie the game.

The GreenJackets took the lead in the fifth inning when shortstop Dominique Laurin couldn't handle a grounder from Julian Benavidez, allowing Sanders to score.

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