GreenJackets notebook

A trip around the Augusta GreenJackets clubhouse has become a much more pleasant experience as the team begins the second half of the South Atlantic League season.

Designated hitter Andy D'Alessio , once nursing a wrist injury, boasts a team-leading .308 average.

Josh Mazzola , after getting an all-star snub, has since taken over the league lead with 54 RBI. He credits a change in his mental approach at the plate and a bit of advice from D'Alessio.

Charlie Culberson , who hit .224 through the first two months of the season, is all smiles after raising his batting average 40 points in the past four weeks. He's hit .370 since manager Dave Machemer moved him to the leadoff spot in the lineup 10 games ago.

"The guys are working hard. All of them," Machemer said. "And (hitting coach) Lipso (Nava) has done a great job with them. He knows when to go hard and when not to push them too much."

The result has been an offensive surge that has produced eight wins in 10 games. The GreenJackets scored 72 runs and allowed 43 in that stretch.

Augusta finished the first half of the season in fourth place in the SAL Southern Division after spending most of the season at or near the bottom of the standings. It entered Monday's game tied for first as the second half of the season enters its second week.

COMING UP : The GreenJackets return home today for a four-game series against the Lexington Legends. Former South Aiken star Phil Disher was a member of the Legends the last time they came into Augusta, but he won't be in uniform this week.

Lexington director of broadcasting Keith Elkins said Disher underwent shoulder surgery last month "and was expected to be out for an extended period."

Disher has been on the disabled list since May 29.

INJURY UPDATE : Despite the recent wins, the GreenJackets are dealing with several injuries.

- Reliever Andrew Reichard remains on the DL with a strained right shoulder, according to Machemer. The Georgia College and State product hasn't thrown a pitch in a live game since June 8.

- Outfielder Ben Woodbury , who came out of a game June 15 against Charleston with shin splints, left the team last week for further evaluation at the San Francisco Giants' facilities in Arizona.

- Right fielder James Simmons , has battled a knee injury since running into a wall in a game June 10. He returned to the batting cage last week, but Machemer said he is still working on running at 100 percent.

- Reliever Chance Corgan , suffering from an injured finger on his throwing hand, has thrown a few simulated games and appears ready to return to the bullpen once a roster spot becomes available, Machemer said.

REPLACEMENTS : With all the injuries, the GreenJackets received help Thursday from the Giants' rookie-ball and short-season teams.

- Ryan Verdugo , a left-handed reliever, joined the club from the Arizona Rookie League Giants. A ninth-round pick from a year ago, Verdugo is the only lefty in the Augusta bullpen.

- The GreenJackets also picked up utility infielder Jose Flores . The 2003 non-drafted free agent spent the past two seasons with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at the short-season level.

REMATCH COMING : The Rome Braves, who faced the GreenJackets in a nine-game series that stretched across the all-star break, have taken the brunt of Augusta's recent surge. But much of the GreenJackets' remaining schedule will come against unknown opponents.

Augusta will face Northern Division teams 24 times in the final 53 games of the season.

The stretch will begin with a rematch of last year's SAL Championship series. The GreenJackets swept the West Virginia Power in three games last fall to claim the 2008 title. The Power will return to Augusta for a four-game series July 13-16.

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