Augusta starter Connor Kaden allowed three hits in six shutout innings, and Shawon Dunston Jr., Sandro Fabian and Michael Bernal each hit solo homers as the GreenJackets blanked the Lexington Legends 4-0 in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday night in front of 5.011 fans at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
The GreenJackets completed the sweep with a 5-3 win in the second game.
In game one, Dunston homered with one out in the first inning to open the scoring. Fabian led off the second inning with a homer for a 2-0 Augusta lead, and the GreenJackets added a run in the third on a double by Dunston, a sacrifice bunt by Jean Angomas and a sacrifice fly by Jose Vizcaino Jr.
Bernal’s leadoff homer in the fifth gave Augusta its final margin.
Kaden (3-0) got the win. He struck out five batters and walked one in six innings. Nolan Riggs allowed one hit in the seventh.
Legends starter Gerson Garabito (4-4) was the losing pitcher.
In the second game, Augusta scored a run in each of the first two innings. In the first, a double by Ashford Fulmer, a walk to Dunston and a walk to Angomas loaded the bases with no outs. Fulmer scored as Skyler Ewing grounded into a force out at second base.
Kelvin Beltre led off the second with a single and stole second base. Bernal walked, and Tyler Brown singled, loading the bases. Fulmer’s sacrifice fly brought Beltre home, and Augusta led 2-0.
The Legends answered with a run in the bottom of the third. With one out, Max Bartlett walked, moved to third on a double by Michael Gigliotti, and scored when Jose Vizcaino, the first baseman, threw late to home after fielding Vance Vizcaino’s grounder.
Beltre led off the fourth with a home run, giving Augusta a 3-1 lead, but the Legends countered in the bottom of the fourth on a walk to Gabriel Cancel, a single by Manny Olloque and a sacrifice fly by Joe Dudek.
A two-run homer by Ewing in the top of the fifth gave the GreenJackets a 5-2 lead.
The Legends scored their final run in the bottom of the fifth on a double by Bartlett, a sacrifice bunt by Gigliotti, and a sacrifice fly by Vance Vizcaino.
Augusta starter Caleb Baragar (5-7), who worked five innings, was the winning pitcher. Patrick Ruotolo retired the Legends in order in the bottom of the seventh to earn his 17th save in 18 save opportunities.
South Atlantic League doubleheader games are a regulation seven innings in length.
The Legends will finish the 2017 season with a four-game series in Hagerstown beginning Friday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
