Jackets reliever steps up

Roster moves and injuries left a hole in the Augusta GreenJackets' pitching rotation that reliever Andrew Reichard filled Monday night against the Savannah Sand Gnats.

After making nine appearances this year out of the bullpen, Reichard turned in a strong performance as a starter. The 2007 13th round draft pick out of Georgia College and State shut out the Sand Gnats with a two-hitter over six innings of work in a 7-2 victory for the GreenJackets.

Primarily a starter last year at the short-season level, Reichard said he wanted to prove his worth as a starter when he got the opportunity. He didn't waste it, striking out two and walking none in his longest outing of the season.

"I was just hoping to do good and stay in the rotation," he said. "I prefer starting. After the first couple of innings everything felt good."

Newly acquired reliever Mitch Lively threw two perfect innings before stumbling in the ninth. Trey Webb retired the last two batters to seal the win.

"He's started before. He knows how to do it," GreenJackets manager Dave Machemer said of Reichard. "He's a strong kid with three good pitches."

The victory gave the Green-Jackets their first series sweep at Lake Olmstead Stadium this season. Augusta tagged Savannah for seven runs on nine hits Monday and outscored the Sand Gnats 22-13 in the series.

Leadoff man Ben Woodbury scored scored the first two runs, and Augusta broke the game open by batting around in the seventh with five runs on three hits and three Savannah errors. Josh Mazzola's single scored two, and a third run came in on a wild pitch. Ehire Adrianza capped the inning with a two-run, inside-the-park homer off the right-field fence.

"I thought it was a triple, but they kept waving me on and I rounded third," Adrianza said through an interpreter. "It was one of the hardest-hit balls I've hit this year."

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.