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SAL Rome Emperors

Braves Split Doubleheader with Hot Rods

July 11, 2021 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Rome Emperors News Release


Rome Braves circle the bases after a home run
Rome Braves circle the bases after a home run
(Rome Emperors)

Rome (32-27) and Bowling Green (38-21) split yesterday's doubleheader at State Mutual Stadium. After a tough loss in Game 1, Rome rallied and walked off Bowling Green in extra innings in Game 2.

Game 1, Bowling Green wins 8-4

A big fifth inning carried Bowling Green to an 8-4 win over Rome in Game 1 of the doubleheader. Rome rallied late but could not quite catch up to the Tampa Bay Rays' High-A affiliate.

After the Hot Rods claimed the lead with a score in the second, the R-Braves followed it up with a two-run second inning. Jesse Franklin V recorded his 13th home run of the season on a solo shot to tie it up, then Bryce Ball scored from third base when Beau Philip was caught in a run-down between first and second base. Two scoreless innings followed before Bowling Green blew it wide open in the top of the fifth. This week's visitors at State Mutual Stadium flipped the script completely with a seven-run half-inning, going from trailing 2-1 to leading 8-2. Rome did not go down easily, as Cody Milligan tallied a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a little more manageable, but the Braves could not catch up in their four-run defeat.

Ball led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Both hits were extra-base hits, as the Dallas Baptist product hit his ninth double and first triple of 2021. Milligan was 1-for-2 with two RBI while Franklin was 1-for-2 with a solo homer. Philip walked twice and scored once.

Freddy Tarnok received the loss in Game 1, dropping his season record to 3-2. His ERA now stands at 5.01 in 23 1/3 innings pitched. The right-hander allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks. The Riverview, Fla., native struck out six batters in 4 1/3 innings. Kasey Kalich entered in relief, allowing five earned runs in 2/3 of an inning. Former USC Trojan Marrick Crouse pitched the last two innings, surrendering just two hits and one walk.

Game 2, Rome wins 4-3

Rome battled a rain delay, a coaching ejection, and a solid Bowling Green squad in Game 2, but still found a way to come out on top and force a doubleheader split. The R-Braves took down the Hot Rods 4-3 on a walk-off single by Rusber Estrada in extra innings.

Bowling Green struck first in Game 2 as well. The Hot Rods added one run in both the first and second inning before the Braves had a chance to respond. With Franklin on base, Rusber Estrada went yard with a two-run bomb to tie it up. Back-to-back doubles scored Ball, as the first baseman got on base and then scored on an RBI hit by Brett Langhorne. A short rain delay followed Langhorne's RBI double, which gave Rome a 3-2 advantage. They would hold onto that lead until the bottom of the sixth, when Bowling Green added another run to make it a tie game once more.

The game was sent into extras. The Hot Rods had a runner at third base with nobody out, but failed to bring him in as Mitch Horacek pitched out of trouble. The third out was recorded as Rusber Estrada fielded a wild pitch off the backstop and tagged the advancing runner before he touched home plate.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jesse Franklin V immediately stole third base. Then Estrada stepped up again when it mattered the most. He connected on a line drive to left field, bringing home Franklin from third base and handing Rome a 4-3 triumph.

Also of note, Rome manager Kanekoa Texiera was ejected early in the contest after a disagreement with the officiating crew. Regardless, the Braves found a way to come out on top.

Estrada was 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run. Ball was 1-for-1 with a run while Langhorne was 1-for-2 with one RBI.

The win was given to Horacek, who recorded two strikeouts in the eighth inning. Jake McSteen allowed one earned run in two innings while Tyler Ferguson and Gabriel Noguera (H, 3) combined to pitch three scoreless frames. Indigo Diaz suffered his first blown save of 2021 as he allowed one earned run in two innings but tallied five strikeouts.

Up Next

With the doubleheader split, the Hot Rods have been victorious in four of seven games in this series. Rome (32-27) remains six games behind division-leading Bowling Green (38-21) in the High-A East South Standings. The R-Braves are third in the division, sitting 2 ½ games behind second-place Greensboro (35-24).

The two teams will play their final matchup this week-long series tomorrow afternoon. The last showdown of an eight-game series will start at 2 p.m. Sunday at State Mutual Stadium. The game will be broadcast on MiLB.tv, with a free audio feed being offered also. Sunday's highlight is the Family Fun Day ticket package. For just $50, fans can purchase the Family Fun Day pack which includes four tickets, four hats, four hamburgers, four sodas, and four popcorns (over $100 value). The ticket package must be purchased ahead of time, as there are no day-of purchases. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit RomeBraves.com/Promotions or call the Rome Braves Box Office at 706-378-5144.

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Rome Braves circle the bases after a home run
Rome Braves circle the bases after a home run
   



South Atlantic League Stories from July 11, 2021


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