Home Struggles Continue as Braves Take Series Opener

ASHEVILLE-- The Asheville Tourists played their 18th home game of the season on Monday night; game one of a three game set against the Rome Braves. Asheville fell 7-3 to drop their 13th home contest of the year.
It was the first matchup of the season between Asheville and the defending South Atlantic League champions. Rome started their ace, Bryse Wilson, and used some early offense to give him a cushion. Brett Cumberland hit a two-run Home Run in the first inning and added a two-run Home Run in the ninth to seal the win.

Asheville did pull even with a second inning rally. Robbie Perkins singled home Luis Castro and scored on an errant throw by Cumberland. The Braves recaptured the lead with an unearned run in the third. Rome then added two more in the fourth to make it 5-2.
The Tourists cut the deficit to two runs with a solo Home Run by Vince Fernandez in the eighth; however Cumberland's ninth inning blast off Julian Fernández put the game out of reach.
Brandon Gold suffered the loss despite inducing a lot of weak contact. Rome tallied several infield singles and took advantage of two costly Tourists errors. Bryan Baker and Reid Humphreys each pitched one inning of scoreless baseball out of Asheville's bullpen.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Tuesday night at McCormick Field. The first pitch is slated for 7:05pm.