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SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Big Inning Lifts Rome Past Hoppers

August 14, 2007 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Rome Braves spoiled the party Tuesday night.

Greensboro Grasshoppers manager Edwin Rodriguez celebrated his 47th birthday, but the Braves responded by handing the Hoppers a 7-2 loss before 5,173 fans at First Horizon Park.

The birthday was not exactly a secret in the Hoppers clubhouse.

"I wasn't going to say anything," Rodriguez said, "but when I got here (to the park) everyone knew. The front office came down with a cake. It was great."

And for six innings, things were going well enough for the Hoppers, locked in a 2-2 tie. But the Braves struck for five runs in the seventh inning, all charged to reliever Don Czyz. Rome mixed four singles and a double with a walk, a sacrifice and two wild pitches.

That was enough for Braves starter Michael Broadway to earn his ninth win of the year. Brett Burns pitched shutout ball over the final three innings to record his first save.

Hoppers starter Graham Taylor pitched five innings and left with the game tied 2-2. It was his fourth straight no-decision after posting his 11th win on July 23. The Hoppers have given him little run support in those four starts.

"We have no explanation for that," Rodriguez said. "The only thing we can come up with is that our hitters get in the same tempo that Graham pitches and they start swinging at the first pitch. He's also getting tired, and that's why we took him out."

Logan Morrison had an RBI double for Greensboro and Spike McDougall added two hits. Jon Mark Owings hit his 14th home run for Rome, a two-run shot off Taylor in the third inning. Tyler Flowers and Brandon Hicks each had two hits and an RBI. Special pink bats were auctioned off during the game and raised more than $4,000 for breast cancer awareness.

The teams wrap up their series with a 12:30 p.m. game on Wednesday at First Horizon.

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