Catfish Swept By Augusta

The Catfish are winding down the season with some very tough games. The latest was tonight's 8-7 loss to the Augusta Greenjackets (Giants). The Catfish were eliminated from the playoff race this week. Augusta is still fighting for a spot. And, for the 8th time this season, they dropped a one-run game to Augusta. The Catfish have lost 29 one-run games over the entire season.

One bright spot was the never-say-die attitude of the Catfish. Down 8-1, they put across 2 runs in each of the final three innings, but fell a run short.

Another bright spot was the player we sponsor, Dan Batz. Not only another great game at first base, Dan had two doubles and scored a run.

In fact, the long ball was the norm for the Catfish tonight. Of the nine hits, only two were singles. They added six doubles and a home run. And the unearned Augusta run in the 7th was the difference in the game.

More from the Columbus Catfish:

Catfish Drop Fifth Straight; Fall 8-7 to Augusta
Fish Swept in Four-Game Series; Play Final Four Games of the Season with Charleston This Weekend

COLUMBUS, GA-The Augusta GreenJackets held off another late inning comeback by the Columbus Catfish to beat the Fish 8-7 and sweep Columbus in a four-game series. The Fish have lost five straight and nine of their last eleven. Columbus trailed 8-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but scored two runs in each of the final three innings to cut the Augusta lead to one before ultimately succumbing. The GreenJackets finish the 2005 season with a 12-4 season series win over the Fish. 1B Dan Batz and DH Chris Westervelt each had a pair of doubles for Columbus as the Fish pounded out seven extra-base hits in the loss. Columbus cannot finish above .500 in the second half of the season as they fall to 29-34 in the second half and 57-75 overall.

Westervelt's RBI double in the first inning gave the Fish a 1-0 advantage, but Augusta scored four runs in the next three innings against Catfish starter RHP Brian Akin. In his first pro start, Akin fanned seven in six innings but left trailing 4-1. Augusta scored four runs against Catfish RHP Nate Hochgesang in the top of the seventh to take an 8-1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, doubles by Batz and C Gabriel Gutierrez plated one run, while 2B David Nicholson had the first Catfish single of the night, driving home Gutierrez from second to make it 8-3 Augusta. The Fish scored two more runs in the eighth inning on a two-run double to center off the bat of 3B Eduardo Perez. Trailing 8-5 against RHP Sean Martin with two outs in the ninth inning, RF Sergio Pedroza picked a perfect time for his first hit in the series, hitting a two-run shot over the right-center field wall. Martin retired the final batter of the game on the next pitch, holding on to an 8-7 Augusta win.

The GreenJackets return home to Augusta for their final series of the season, while the Catfish stay at Golden Park for their last four-game set with the Charleston RiverDogs, the Single-A Affiliate of the New York Yankees. Tomorrow RHP Steve Nelson (4-3, 4.53 ERA) takes the mound for the first pitch at 7:00 PM.