GreenJackets cap year in style

Julian Benavidez stepped on home plate Monday night and immediately disappeared underneath a mob of pumped-up teammates.

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Benavidez had just ended his season with the Augusta GreenJackets the same way he started it - with a three-run home run.

The only difference: Monday's blast was with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Augusta a 5-3 win in the season finale against the Savannah Sand Gnats.

"I knew right off the bat that it was gone," Benavidez said.

So, it seemed, did everyone at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The leftovers from an announced crowd of 2,112 erupted along with the players on the bench as Dan Trumble, Jon Armitage and Benavidez rounded the bases one last time this season.

"That was just great timing for the first walk-off home run of the year," shortstop Aaron Hornostaj said. "Right guy, right spot."

It was a fitting way for the 2005 GreenJackets to go out, because even though that was their first walk-off home run, the GreenJackets (37-32) made a habit of winning home games in their final at bat. That was the third game-winner for Benavidez alone.

The 23-year-old began his GreenJackets' career on June 21 with a first-inning, three-run blast. He likely ended it with Monday's homer.

"It feels good to end it that way instead of how my last at bat ended," said Benavidez, who struck out looking in the seventh inning. "I just wanted to have fun."

That had been tough for Benavidez, who entered the game in a 2-for-36 slump and a .220 average.

"That's the best way to go out," hitting coach Jerry Browne said.

Brian Horwitz's Augusta career ended in far less dramatic fashion Monday night. Manager Roberto Kelly gave his regular right fielder the night off, allowing Horwitz to end his South Atlantic League season as the batting champion with a .349 average. Horwitz became the second Augusta right fielder in a row to win the award, and he toppled Brandon Moss' team-record .339 average in the process.

"I'm kind of speechless," said Horwitz, who went from signing with the San Francisco Giants as an undrafted free agent after his senior season at California to winning back-to-back batting titles in the Northwest and Sally leagues.

Horwitz also learned Monday that the Giants had promoted him, left-hander Jonathan Sanchez and catcher Nick Conte to the high-A San Jose Giants, where they will report Wednesday for practice before trying to help the Giants in the second round of the California League playoffs.

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