Catfish Pounded By Greenjackets

Two nights in a row, and for 24 straight innings, the Columbus Catfish held the Augusta Greenjackets (Giants) from scoring an earned run. That had to come to an end eventually. And it did tonight. Augusta scored early ... and often ... en route to a 9-0 pasting of the Catfish.

Augusta scored 3 runs with 2 outs in the 1st inning, added another in the 4th, 2 in the 5th, and for good measure, 3 in the 8th.

Greenjackets starter Adam Cowart pitched 7 innings, scattering 5 hits, and striking out 5 Catfish batters as he picked up his 4th win of the season.

Things went poorly for the Catfish from the get-go. In the 1st inning, LF John Matulia hit a 1-out double on a line drive to right field, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple. He would be the last Catfish runner to get past first until the 7th inning, when RF Maiko Loyola beat out a ground ball to short, then moved to third on two wild pitches by Cowart.

The Catfish did manage 6 hits off Cowart and reliever Thomas King, but stranded 4 runners, the rest being picked off or caught stealing.

Defensively, Catfish C Nevin Ashley picked off 2 runners at first base, in addition to throwing out an Augusta baserunner trying to steal second.

P Ryan Owen was tagged with the loss, giving up 3 runs in 3 innings, and striking out 4. After that 3-run 1st inning, he only faced 6 more batters in the next 2 innings, but was lifted to start the 4th.

The loss evens the Catfish record at 8-8, earning a split with Augusta ... and in all 4 series played so far this season, both at road and at home.

The Catfish head to Rome to face the Braves this weekend, and won't be back in town until the 30th.