SALISBURY, MD - The Rome Braves scored six runs in the final three innings to surge past the Delmarva Shorebirds 8-2 on Monday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.Keith Weisenberg (2-3) turned in the longest start of his career to win for the Braves (25-30, 65-59), allowing two runs (one
SALISBURY, MD - The Rome Braves scored six runs in the final three innings to surge past the Delmarva Shorebirds 8-2 on Monday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Keith Weisenberg (2-3) turned in the longest start of his career to win for the Braves (25-30, 65-59), allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits over eight innings, walking one and striking out five. Brandon Bonilla (0-3) suffered the loss for the Shorebirds (26-29, 61-61), giving up two runs on three hits over four innings with two walks and six strikeouts.
Delmarva got some help to manufacture a run in the first inning. Cadyn Grenier reached on an error at short to lead off, then after a pair of groundouts to move him up to third, Grenier scored on a wild pitch, making it 1-0 Shorebirds.
The Braves got that run back in the top of the second. Drew Lugbauer drew a leadoff walk, and Trey Harris took his place on a fielder's choice. Hagen Owenby followed with a single, and both runners moved on a productive groundout. Kevin Josephina came up next, and a ball four that sent him to first base sailed all the way to the backstop, allowing Harris to score to tie it at 1-1.
Lugbauer against factored into the equation in the fourth, leading off with a surprise bunt single up the third base line. After a strikout and flyout, Lugbauer went first-to-third on a pair of wild pitches. Marcos Almonte then chipped a grounder to the left side and beat it out for an infield hit, scoring Lugbauer to put the Braves up 2-1.
Things stayed stagnent until the top of the seventh. With two on and one out, Justin Dean tagged a line drive to right over Zach Jarrett's head and all the way to the wall, scoring a pair and resulting in a triple. Dean came in soon after on an AJ Graffanino sac fly to cap a three-run inning and boost the Rome lead to 5-1.
The Shorebirds got one back in the bottom of the seventh on back-to-back leadoff doubles from Trevor Craport and Seamus Curran to cut it to 5-2, but Delmarva stranded two men on and never threatened again.
Owenby went deep to left center for a solo home run in the eighth. In the ninth, the Braves managed two runs off a wild Tim Naughton, who walked three in the inning, giving the game its final margin.
Graffanino finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for the Braves, while Dean went 1-for-5 with a triple, two runs, and two RBIs.
Craport paced the Shorebird attack, going 3-for-4 with a double and run.
The Shorebirds wrap up their series against the Braves and their seven-game homestand on Tuesday night. Brenan Hanifee (7-5, 3.02) toes the rubber for Delmarva against Rome's Hayden Deal (7-1, 2.39). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday is the final Bark in the Park of the season, presented by Johnson-McKee Animal Hospital. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.
