Pair of Shutouts Secure Doubleheader Sweep

June 6, 2024 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Rome Emperors News Release

ROME, GA - Four pitchers combined to throw fourteen scoreless innings Thursday against the Winston-Salem Dash as the Emperors took both games of the doubleheader, 4-0.

Game One: Emperors 4, Dash 0 (7 innings)

Luis Vargas shined in his 2024 Rome debut, hurling six shutout innings while scattering three hits and striking out seven. Both starters went punch for punch through the first four innings. Tanner McDougal was equally as dominant up until the fifth inning when Drew Compton's first High-A hit came in double form. E.J. Exposito's first triple of the summer followed and drove in Compton from second. A wild pitch during Stephen Paolini's subsequent at-bat brought home Exposito, making it 2-0. Insurance came in the form of a Ceballos triple and Adam Zebrowski RBI single in the sixth.

Vargas faced 21 batters and needed just 74 pitches to get through six complete. Samuel Strickland faced the minimum in the seventh inning, striking out two in the process.

Game Two: Emperors 4, Dash 0 (7 innings)

The lineup picked up right where in left off in game one, tallying two extra-base hits in the home half of the first, one from Ceballos and another from Compton. An Exposito single marked the third hit of a two run first for Rome. Another double from Nick Clarno would bring home Bryson Worrell in the second to make it 3-0.

Mitch Farris turned in his third consecutive quality start, spanning five innings and giving up just two hits. Like Vargas, Farris was efficient. Even with six strikeouts, Farris fired just 68 pitches. Jared Johnson picked up his league-leading sixth save of the season after two scoreless frames to wrap-up game two.

Winston-Salem bats were 5-for-45 (.111) with 17 strikeouts Thursday. Rome holds a two-game lead over second-place Bowling Green heading into Friday night's Game Four.

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...

South Atlantic League Stories from June 6, 2024

• Pair of Shutouts Secure Doubleheader Sweep - Rome Emperors
• Cyclones Clobber Season-High Tying 13 Runs in Victory as Edwin Diaz Tosses Scoreless Frame - Brooklyn Cyclones
• Blue Rocks Split Doubleheader on the Backs of a One-Hitter - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Crawford Breaks Tie in 4-Run 7th; Claws Win 4-1 on Thursday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Drive Drop Third in a Row to Crawdads, Fall 9-4 Thursday Night - Greenville Drive
• Five-Run Eighth Inning Leads Hot Rods to 6-5 Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Bratt and Bats Lead 'Dads to Third Straight Win - Hickory Crawdads
• Renegades Take Game One of Doubleheader - Hudson Valley Renegades
• Grasshoppers Drop 5-1 to the BlueClaws Thursday Evening - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• Guedez Pitches Five Strong in One-Run Loss - Asheville Tourists
• Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Cyclones to Take the Field as the Oat Milkers on June 7th as Part of MiLB-Wide Program - Brooklyn Cyclones
• Renegades Game Notes - 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

• Rome Emperors Announce 'Bigger Than Baseball Campaign' for Southeastern Hurricane Relief
• Rome Season Ends in SALDS Sweep
• Rome Emperors Drop SALDS Opener
• Compton's 10 Hits, Two Homers Draws SAL Player of the Week Honors
• Frey, Farris Tag Team 'Hoppers in Series Finale