Johnny Monell single-handedly helped the GreenJackets come back to tie and eventually win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning as the catcher smacked two home runs in Augusta’s, 5-4, walk-off win over Savannah Wednesday afternoon at Lake Olmstead Stadium. Monell’s second home run of the game tied the contest at four in the ninth before Francisco Peguero’s walk-off single scored Ehire Adrianza for the game-winning run.
Jimmy Johnson (1-1), who hadn’t allowed a run to score in a Savannah uniform since April 24, permitted the game-tying home run to Monell to start the ninth. He then retired Charlie Culberson for the first out of the inning but allowed a single by Adrianza with one down. After a strikeout of James Simmons, Johnson was removed in favor of closer Rhiner Cruz.
Cruz issued a four-pitch walk to Juan Perez to move the winning run to second before allowing the game-winning hit to Peguero.
The loss overshadows a solid pitching performance from starter Eric Beaulac, who struck out eight hitters and allowed three runs in six innings of work. Monell’s first home run came off Beaulac in the sixth to make it a one-run game.
Savannah actually trailed early in the game before Raul Reyes connected for his eighth home run of the year to give them a, 2-1, lead after four. In the fifth, Alonzo Harris would single in a pair to make the lead 4-1 but that is as large as it would grow for the Sand Gnats.
Harris, Wilmer Flores and Michael Moras each had two hits for Savannah (29-33, 64-68) while Reyes and Harris each had a pair of RBI.
The Gnats will begin the final series of the 2009 season Thursday night in Charleston with RHP Kyle Allen (9-6, 3.59) on the hill in search of his 10th win. The RiverDogs have yet to announce a starter.
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