
Four-Run First Inning Derails Emperors in Game One
May 21, 2024 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Rome Emperors News Release
ROME, GA - Wilmington capitalized on Rome's early defensive shortcomings, scoring four in the first and another in the fourth to win game one, 5-4.
Lara induced two groundballs to begin the top of the first. The first was bobbled by second baseman E.J. Exposito and the second took a rogue hop on shortstop Ambioris Tavarez and was ruled a hit. Daylin Lile then tripled off the right field wall, scoring both before Rome could record an out. A subsequent single from Branden Boissiere brought Lile in from third, making it 3-0. Two free passes later, a fielder's choice ground out from T.J. White would plate the fourth and final run of the inning for Wilmington.
Rome's two out rally in the home half of the first started with a Workinger single to left and was followed up by an Adam Zebrowski walk. Stephen Paolini then registered his first of two, two-out singles on the day, driving in Workinger from second. The following at-bat, E.J. Exposito's hard ground ball over the third base bag was thrown away and two runs crossed for the Emps'. Paolini's second two-out single would come in the third, scoring Sabin Ceballos who had reached on a single and tying the ballgame.
Lara would end up striking out five over 3.0 innings. He faced one batter in the fourth before Tyree Thompson was summoned from the Rome pen. Aside from the back-to-back singles Thompson surrendered upon entering the game, the Louisiana native was solid over 4.0 innings of relief. He struck out four and issued just one walk in his longest outing of 2024. Rob Griswold covered the final two frames and faced the minimum while striking out three.
The first pitch for tomorrow's game between the Wilmington Blue Rocks and the Rome Emperors is set for Noon, EDT.
Images from this story
![]() Rome Emperors' Mike Steed, Jhancarlos Lara, and Jefferson Romero on game day |
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from May 21, 2024
- Hot Rods Throttle Dash in 14-4, Series Opening Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Four-Run First Inning Derails Emperors in Game One - Rome Emperors
- Hot Rods Throttle Dash in 14-4, Series Opening Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Perales and Bats Dominate in Drive's 15-2 Thumping of Greensboro - Greenville Drive
- Dash Fall to Hot Rods, 14-4 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Crawdads Stumble Late, Lose 8-5 - Hickory Crawdads
- BlueClaws Score Four in Ninth, Rally to Win 9-6 on Tuesday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Grasshoppers Drop to the Drive, 15-2 in First Game of Its Home Series - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Cyclones Crush Renegades, 7-1, to Kickoff Home Stand - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Renegades Fall, 7-1, to Cyclones - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Renegades Game Notes - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Getting Back on Track - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Yankees Infielder DJ LeMahieu Currently Scheduled to Continue Major League Rehab Assignment with Renegades Today at Brooklyn - Hudson Valley Renegades
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Rome Emperors Stories
- Emperors Shut out for League-High Sixth Time Wednesday
- Bullpen Backs Sears in Debut, Emps' Win Third-Straight
- Emperors Sweep Sunday's DH, Enter Three-Way Tie for First Place
- Rome's Offensive Struggles Transcend the Delay, Accompany Third-Straight Loss
- Rome Emperors Weekend Preview: May 1st-4th

