Rome Braves: Rome can’t keep up after Asheville jumps out early in loss

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

Great pitching by Asheville starter Helmis Rodriguez and frequent hitting helped the Tourists beat the Rome Braves 6-3 on Friday night at State Mutual Stadium.

Rodriguez only gave up two hits through five innings, while the Tourists tallied five hits of their own during the stretch and ended with nine to grab an early 5-0 lead on the Braves.

“They jumped on us early,” Rome Braves manager Randy Ingle said. “The intensity was there really from the get-go, but that little crafty lefty over there (in Rodriguez) had a really good change-up and really had us off.”

Asheville scored three runs in the third thanks to back-to-back doubles to open the inning. Forrest Wall and Omar Carrizales hit line drives into right and center field, respectively.

Wall scored on Carrizales’ hit, and Carrizales scored on a sacrifice fly from Dom Nunez.

Carrizales hit another double, this time into right field, to give the Tourists another run in the fourth, and Wes Rogers scored on a balk to extend Asheville’s lead to 5-0.

“We just had a hard time putting guys away. We’d get two strikes on them, and we’d miss our location,” Ingle said.

“They put on some real good two-strike ABs over there, and they got some guys on that team too that can flat-out fly. On the bases, they just took over, and we were unable to stop them.”

Rome finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth.

Keith Curcio and Jordan Edgerton singled to open the half-inning, and Curcio advanced to third on a throwing error.

Moments later, Tanner Krietemeier delivered a sacrifice fly to center field and Curcio tagged third before scoring, giving Rome its first run of the night. Asheville pushed the lead to 6-1 in the seventh, but Rome answered in the eighth with two runs to cut the lead in half.

Reed Harper singled and both Ozhaino Albies and Jordan Edgerton walked to load the bases. After Krietemeier struck out swinging for Rome’s second out, Wigberto Nevarez delivered a single into left field to send Harper and Albies home. Braxton Davidson had a shot to tie the game with runners on first and second, but his deep shot into center field was corralled by Asheville to end the inning.

“We rallied back,” Ingle said. “We had a tying run at the plate there in the last part of the game there but just came up short.”

Brandon Barker started for Rome and took the loss in 3 2-3 innings of work. Barker struck out three, allowed five hits and ended with an ERA of 9.82.

Rodriguez earned the win for Asheville in six innings, where he allowed four hits, one run and had an ERA of 0.00.

Rome (0-2) plays its third game against Asheville tonight at 6 p.m. at State Mutual Stadium.

Source: Rome News

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