SAL1 Rome Emperors

Rome Secures Opener 6-3 in Lakewood

May 4, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Rome Emperors News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - The Rome Braves played another clean game on Friday night, this time in a 6-3 defeat of the Lakewood BlueClaws on a chilly evening in New Jersey. The top two hitters in the order, Justin Dean and Andrew Moritz, proved to be the catalysts for the Braves as they shook off the long bus ride and the cold in a solid performance in front of nearly 7,500 fans at FirstEnergy Park.

Rome started quickly on Friday, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning. Moritz singled and stole second base. He moved to third on a Greg Cullen single and then scored on an RBI groundout by Trey Harris. After Rome starting pitcher LHP Gabriel Noguera surrendered a pair of runs in the Bottom of the 1st the Braves found themselves down 2-1. The deficit was short-lived.

Dean opened the 3rd inning with a bunt single. He stole second base and advanced to third on another Moritz knock. Once again Harris drove in the runner from third base on an RBI grounder, this time tying the score 2-2.

By the 5th inning the Braves were ready to take the lead for the final time. Dean and Moritz leadoff the frame taking back-to-back walks. Both runners moved up a base on a deep fly ball out to right off the bat of Cullen. With two runners in scoring position Harris came up and delivered the game-winning hit, a line-drive single into center field to give the Braves the lead 4-2. Rome scored a pair of unearned runs in the 6th inning thanks in large part to two Lakewood errors. Dean got an RBI on a bases-loaded walk and Moritz brought in the final run on a sacrifice fly to deep right.

The Braves top two hitters in the order were part of every run-scoring rally on Friday night. Dean and Moritz combined for three hits, three walks, four runs scored, four stolen bases and two RBI. Their lines were nearly identical. Dean was 1-3 with two walks, two steals, two runs and an RBI. Moritz was 2-3 with one walk, two steals, two runs and an RBI.

The BlueClaws scored an unearned run off Rome reliever LHP Dilmer Mejia but were mostly put down with ease by the Nicaraguan southpaw. Mejia retired the first 10 batters he faced in the game. He received the win for 4.1 innings of work, allowing one unearned run with five strikeouts and no walks. Noguera pitched 4.2 innings and gave up two runs, both earned, on five hits. He walked five and struck out two but managed to work his way out of jams in almost every inning.

Harris finished 1-4 with four RBI and a hit by pitch. Jose Bermudez was 2-4 with a run scored. Logan Brown went 1-4 with a double and a walk.

Rome and Lakewood continue their four game series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 pm from FirstEnergy Park. Rome will start RHP Jose Olague (1-3, 5.12) while Lakewood will send RHP Victor Santos (2-1, 3.43) to the mound.

Rome (11-16): 6 R 9 H 1 E

Lakewood (9-19): 3 R 6 H 2 E

W: Dilmer Mejia (3-0)

L: Robinson Martinez (0-2)

Time: 2:51

Attendance: 7,494

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 4, 2019


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