Big Eighth Inning Sends Rome to 17-8 Win over Legends
Published on August 17, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release
(ROME, Ga.) The Lexington Legends cut an early seven-run deficit down to two in the top of the eighth inning, but the Rome Braves scored eight runs in the bottom of the eighth on their way to a 17-8 victory Friday night.
The win by Rome puts the first-place Braves six and one-half games ahead of the third-place Legends in the South Atlantic League Southern Division standings. Second-place Asheville is four and one-half games behind.
The Legends scored a run in the top of the first inning, but the Braves came back with two in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.
Rome had its first big inning of the night when they scored six runs in the second. Ryan Query doubled, moved to third on a single by Elmer Reyes and scored on a double by Tony Mueller as Reyes went to third. The runners held at second and third as Ross Heffley grounded out, but William Beckwith followed with a single, scoring Reyes and sending Mueller to third. Robby Hefflinger's double scored Mueller and moved Beckwith to third. After Kyle Kubitza walked to load the bases, Brandon Drury's double brought home two more runs to give the Braves a 7-1 lead. Chase Anselment's sacrifice fly scored Kubitza with the sixth run of the inning.
Each team scored a run in the third, leaving Rome with a 9-2 lead.
The Legends began their comeback with two runs in the fifth. Chris Epps walked and stole second base. Chan Jong Moon walked, and Epps went to third on a wild pitch. After Moon stole second, Nolan Fontana singled, scoring Epps. Zach Johnson's sacrifice fly scored Moon, and the Legends trailed 9-4. Johnson leads the South Atlantic League with 105 runs batted in.
Lexington added two more runs in the sixth. With one out, Jobduan Morales doubled and Justin Gominsky was hit by a pitch. Epps grounded into a force play at second, leaving runners at first and third. Rome pitcher David Filak threw past first on a pickoff attempt, allowing Morales to score from third as Epps moved from first to third. Filak then threw a wild pitch and Epps scored to cut the lead to three at 9-6.
The Legends got closer in the eighth inning. Brandon Meredith singled, stole second, went to third on an infield out and came home on Epps' single to make the score 9-7. Epps stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Ruben Sosa walked, putting the tying run on at first base, but reliever David Peterson struck out Moon to end the inning.
Mueller, who had four hits and three runs scored in the game, started the bottom of the eighth with a single. Heffley's bunt was fielded by Legends reliever Murilo Gouvea, whose throwing error allowed Mueller to score from second as Heffley reached first. Beckwith reached first when catcher interference was called on Morales, and Hefflinger followed with a three -run homer, giving Rome a 13-7 lead. Kubitza walked, Drury singled and Anselment doubled, producing two more runs. Query and Reyes both struck out, but Mueller's infield hit advanced Anselment to third. Pinch-hitter Fernando De Los Santos doubled to center field, scoring Anselment and Mueller, giving the Braves a 17-7 margin.
The Legends added a final run in the ninth on a walk to Fontana, a wild pitch and two infield outs.
Rome starter David Starn pitched only three innings and was not eligible for the win. The victory went to reliever Wilson Rivera, who entered the game in the fifth and pitched two innings. Peterson, who entered the game with two outs in the top of the eighth, picked up his second save.
Legends starter Jonas Dufek (6-3), who was relieved with one out in the second inning, took the loss.
The Braves have taken the first two games of the four-game series, which continues Saturday. Game time is 7 p.m.
Attendance 2,669
South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2012
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