Late Rally Can't Lift Braves in Afternoon Defeat
August 3, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Rome Emperors News Release
Rome, GA - The Greenville Drive defeated the Rome Braves Wednesday afternoon at State Mutual Stadium before a crowd of 1,488. The series finale will be tomorrow night at 7pm before the Braves head to Augusta for a four game series with the Greenjackets beginning Friday night.
After back to back infield hits and a walk to start off the top of the first, Henry Ramos gave the Drive a 1-0 lead with an RBI fielder's choice. Later in the inning Xander Bogaerts extended the lead to 2-0 with a run scoring sacrifice fly. Ramos struck again in the top of the third, this time with an RBI single to right. Bogaerts followed Ramos with a two RBI double off the centerfield wall to make it a 5-0 Greenville lead. Rome could not stop the bleeding after Michael Almanzar had an RBI single and Carson Blair roped an RBI double to extend the Greenville lead to 7-0.
Robert Hefflinger got the Braves on the board in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double to left center that scored catcher Evan Gattis all the way from first. One inning later in the bottom of the eighth Chris Garcia narrowed the score to 7-2 with an RBI single up the middle.
Rome gave Greenville a scare in the bottom of the ninth with a three run rally thanks to a two RBI double by Matt Weaver and an RBI groundout by Matt Lipka that closed the gap to 7-5. Greenville would call on Michael Gleason to come in relief with two outs and the tying run at bat. The move proved successful as Gleason recorded the final out to send Greenville home 7-5 winners.
Kyle Stroup (3-5) earns the win for Greenville and Caleb Brewer (5-9) takes the loss for Rome. Michael Gleason picks up his fourth save of the season.
The fourth and final game of the series will be tomorrow night at 7pm. For ticket information, contact the Rome Braves at 706-378-5144 or log onto www.romebraves.com.
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