Fireworks Show Starts Early
The Braves began the scoring after a an hour and 49 minute rain delay with a Carlos Lee home run to deep left field. The Catfish answered when a Quinn Stewart single scored Chase Fontaine. Rome would add 3 more in the 2nd when a Lee double to right field emptied the bases after Jeremy Hall had walked them loaded. Rome added another to take a 5-1 lead when Freddie Freeman homered to right field off of the top of the clubhouse.
The Columbus bats came alive in the 7th when Henry Wrigley singled to center field to score Stewart and then Mike McCormick drove in Reid Fronk after grounding into a double play. In the 8th, the show turned to Fronk, as he hit a go-ahead 3-run home run to left field to give the Catfish a 7-5 lead. The Braves would add one in the 9th, but Jose Mejias shut the door for his 2nd save of the season.
The Catfish were led by Reid Fronk, who went 3-4 with 2 runs, 3 runs batted in and the big home run. Quinn Stewart went 2-3 with 2 runs and a run batted in. Glenn Gibson recorded his 4th win of the season after throwing 2 shutout innings.
Rome was led by Carlos Lee, who had a 3-5 with 2 runs and 4 runs batted in and Freddie Freeman, who was 2-3 with a home run. Casey Beck took his 3rd loss of the season after allowing 3 runs in 1 and 2/3 innings.
The Catfish and Braves continue their 3 game series tomorrow night at 7 pm.
The Catfish are the Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.