CRACKERS GRAB GAME ONE OF WILD CARD FROM MONSTERS

COLUMBUS, GA - Atlanta Crackers pitchers John Luke Glanton and Gavin Mask combined to allow just three hits and two runs over eight and two-thirds innings of work on Monday night, shutting down a powerful Chattahoochee Monsters defense en route to a 5-2 win at Golden Park in the first game of the SunBelt Baseball League Wild Card.

Chattahoochee came into the game having scored 34 runs in its last six games, including a series split with the Crackers on July 17 and 19. The Monsters were also riding the emotions of a doubleheader sweep the day before of the then-first place Gainesville Gol'Diggers to secure the fourth overall seed and home field for the Wild Card round.

But Glanton did not allow a baserunner in the first three innings, setting down nine in a row before allowing a walk and an RBI double to Caleb Johnson. Glanton got into a little trouble in the fifth by walking the bases loaded, but Mask came in to shut down the threat.

From there the Monsters only managed one more run in the sixth. They did rally in the ninth to load the bases with two outs, but could not push any runs across as Jay Kehoe struck out to end the game.

The two teams will rematch on Wednesday night at Golden Park, with the winner advancing to the SBL Semifinals. First pitch is slated for 7:05 pm with coverage on the Monsters' YouTube channel starting at 7 pm.