Rome splits with Greensboro, sits at 7-5 following back-to-back road trips

The Rome Braves continued their strong start to the 2021 season last week. The R-Braves (7-5) split a six-game series in Greensboro, N.C., against the High-A East foe Grasshoppers. Rome took two of the first three matches at First National Bank Field, then earned a three-run win on Sunday to even the series at three games a-piece. The Braves are now tied with Winston-Salem (7-5) for second place in the High-A East South Standings, two games behind first-place Bowling Green (9-3).

May 11, Rome wins 8-2

Rome got out to a hot start on Tuesday night with a five-run victory in Greensboro. Bryce Ball drove in four runs, Riley Delgado scored three times, and Michael Harris II touched home plate twice in the win. AJ Puckett allowed 0ER in 4.1IP, giving up just 1H and 3BB. Lisandro Santos earned the decision, as the 22-year-old reliever surrendered 2ER in 1.2IP. Tanner Gordon picked up his first save of the season, holding the Grasshopper offense at bay over the final 3 innings.

May 13 (Game 1), Greensboro wins 7-3

The first game of Thursday’s doubleheader went in favor of the home team. Greensboro used a four-run sixth inning to blast past the Braves. Rome’s three runs came via home runs from Cody Milligan (2-3 HR, 2 R, RBI) and Garrison Schwartz (1-4 HR, 2 RBI, R). Starting pitcher Ricky DeVito suffered his first loss of the season but gave up just 1ER in 4.0IP.

May 13 (Game 2), Rome wins 4-1

Game 2 of the doubleheader was much more favorable for the High-A Braves. Rome benefitted from an amazing pitching performance from starter Tanner Lawson (1ER in 2.0IP), Coleman Huntley III (0R in 3.0IP), Gabriel Noguera (0R in 1.0IP), and Indigo Diaz (0R in 1IP). Huntley got the win, Noguera earned a hold, and Diaz picked up his first save of 2021. Rome again scored all of their runs thanks to long-balls from Michael Harris II (1-3 HR, 2 R, RBI), Bryce Ball (1-3 HR, 2 RBI, R), and Logan Brown (1-3 HR, RBI, R).

May 14, Greensboro wins 5-3

A quick start for the Grasshopper offense propelled Greensboro to a two-run win on Friday night. The Pittsburgh Pirate affiliate raced out to a 5-0 lead in the game’s first four innings. Rome started to battle back, scoring two runs in the fifth and one in the eighth, but could not close the gap on the road. Alan Rangel picked up the loss by allowing 4ER in 4.0IP while Lisandro Santos and Kasey Kalich held the Grasshoppers scoreless in the final four frames. Catcher Logan Brown was 2-3 at the plate with 1 RBI and Shean Michel went 1-4 with 1 run.

May 15, Greensboro wins 6-5 (10 Innings)

The Braves narrowly missed completing one of their most memorable comebacks in recent years in an extra innings loss on Saturday. Rome trailed 4-0 in the fifth inning and 5-1 going into the ninth inning. The Braves managed just two hits heading into the top of the ninth, but the bats woke up at the right time. Two hits and one walk loaded the bases for Kevin Josephina. The veteran utility player sent a long fly ball past the fence in center field, tying the game with a Grand Slam. Unfortunately, Rome could not convert with a runner at third base in the top of the tenth and were walked-off by the Grasshoppers the following half-inning.

May 16, Rome wins 4-1

Rome was able to shake off some frustration in Sunday’s series finale at First National Bank Field. The Braves used a 4-4 performance from Michael Harris II, including a first-inning home run, to race past the Grasshoppers in game six. Jesse Franklin was 2-4 with 2 R and one double while Brett Langhorne hit his first home run of the season. AJ Puckett moved to 2-0 on the season after surrendering just one baserunner in 3.1IP after relieving starter Tanner Gordon. Indigo Diaz struck out two batters in the bottom of the ninth to earn his second save of the road stand.

Starting Pitcher of the Week

AJ Puckett put together another marvelous start on Tuesday in Greensboro. The 25-year-old righty shut down the Grasshopper offense on May 11, giving up zero runs on just one hit and three walks. Puckett also struck out two Greensboro batters. He came in as a reliever on Sunday and got the win by surrendering one baserunner in 3.1IP. Puckett tallied four strikeouts in the game six victory. The Pepperdine product who was selected by the Braves in December’s Rule 5 draft is 2-0 in 2021 and has allowed 1ER in 11.0IP this year for a 0.82 ERA.

Relief Pitcher of the Week

Reliever Indigo Diaz registered his first professional save on Thursday and followed it up with save number two on Sunday. Diaz pitched the final inning of the second game of the May 12 doubleheader against the Grasshoppers and picked up a quick 1-2-3 inning- including one strikeout- to earn the save. Coleman Huntley, who was Relief Pitch of the Week in the Winston-Salem series, picked up the win while Gabriel Noguera received credit for a hold. On Sunday, Diaz struck out two Grasshoppers in the ninth inning to pick up another save. Puckett had received the win in that contest. Diaz, a 6’5”, 250-pound right-handed pitcher out of Michigan State, now has a 1.42 ERA in 6.1IP.

Offensive Hitter of the Week

Three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and Michael Harris II punishing the opposing pitching staff. The Braves’ no. 10 prospect had a fantastic week at the plate, going 7-for-17 (.412) with one double and two home runs in Greensboro. He scored five times and drove in three runs versus the Grasshoppers last week. The Stockbridge, Ga., native saved his best in Greensboro for last by going 4-4 with a solo home run in Sunday’s series finale. This great performance came against Pirates top prospect and 2020 first-round pick Carmen Mlodzinski. With a .333 average in 45 at-bats, Harris is quickly approaching Cody Milligan (.345) who has the highest batting average on the team.