Catfish blast Augusta

DH Shawn Williams went 5-for-5 and drove in 2 runs to help the Columbus Catfish beat the Augusta GreenJackets (Giants) 9-1 tonight.

The Catfish punched across 4 runs in the top of the 1st. 3B Greg Sexton drove in CF Emeel Salem, who singled. LF Steven Vogt doubled home Williams, who had also doubled, and RF Maiko Loyola, who had walked. C Mike McCormick reached on an error that allowed Sexton to score, and the Catfish had a 4-0 lead.

In the 2nd, Sexton singled in Williams, who was hit by a pitch, and the lead was 5-0.

The 3rd inning saw the Catfish score again. 1B Henry Wrigley tripled, driving in McCormick, who had singled. 2B Seth Dhaenens drove Wrigley in on a sacrifice fly. Williams singled in Salem, who had reached on a single, putting the Catfish up 8-0.

Augusta narrowed it slightly with a run in the 4th, but the Catfish got the run back in the 6th. Williams drove in Salem with a single up the middle, making it 9-1.

Besides Williams' 5-for-5 performance, Salem and Sexton had 3 hits each. Wrigley's triple was his 4th of the season, tops in the league.

Brian Flores picked up his 2nd win of the season, going 5 innings, allowing a run on 6 hits, striking out 7. Jesse Darcy pitched 3 perfect innings, striking out a pair. Jose Mejias pitched a perfect 9th.

The win gives the Catfish a split with Augusta, and brings them home Monday on a 2-game winning streak.