Hellickson, Catfish stop Braves

Jeremy Hellickson made a spectacular season debut Tuesday, combining with Ryan Owen on a five-hitter as the Columbus Catfish defeated the Rome Braves, 6-2.

Hellickson (1-0) gave up an unearned run on one hit over six innings, striking out six and walking two. The lone hit off him was Larry Williams' fourth-inning triple that scored Phillip Britton, who reached on an error.

The 20-year-old right-hander was ninth in the New York-Penn League last season with a 2.43 ERA, going 4-3 in 15 games (14 starts) for short-season Hudson Valley.

Owen pitched the final three innings, yielding one run on four hits. He fanned three without issuing a walk in recording his first professional save.

Desmond Jennings sparked the offense for Columbus (12-8) with two hits, an RBI and a run scored. He singled and came home on an error in a two-run first, then singled home Matthew Field in the second to make it 3-0.

Braves starter Jamie Richmond (0-2) surrendered three runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk.

Williams and Danny Brezeale had two hits apiece for Rome (3-17), which has lost five straight. --Alan Friedman/MLB.com