Ynoa Tagged for Six Runs as R-Braves Lose 14-6 to Tourists

Ynoa Tagged for Six Earned Runs in 13-6 Loss to Tourists

Rome Splits Week-Long Series Versus Asheville

A planned rehab start for Atlanta Braves pitcher Huascar Ynoa did not go as planned for Rome Braves (37-41) on Sunday afternoon in their 14-6 loss to the Asheville Tourists (32-43). Asheville used huge offensive outbursts in the first, second, seventh, and eighth innings to record an eight-run victory and force a six-game series split.

Asheville’s offense showed no signs of struggle against starter Huascar Ynoa. The Tourists tagged the 2018 Rome Brave for six earned runs in the first two innings. Ynoa gave up those runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out one.

Rome made some progress in the bottom of the second. With Logan Brown and Brett Langhorne on the basepaths, Beau Philip launched his fifth homer of the season to right field. That blast to Home Run Hill made it a 6-3 ballgame. Asheville added another run in the fourth to push it to a four-run game. The following half-inning Cody Milligan drove in Garrison Schwartz with a sacrifice fly.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the R-Braves continued to battle back in the sixth. Mitch Calandra scored on a Michael Harris II groundout and Milligan touched home plate thanks to an error. Rome had trailed by as many as six runs but suddenly worked it to a one-run difference.

The visiting Tourists were not to be outdone. They hit a three-run homer off Gabriel Noguera in the seventh and another in the eighth off Matt Hartman to create a seven-run lead. Rome was unable to respond in the final inning and a half, falling 14-6 to Asheville after the Tourists scored once again in the ninth.

Sunday’s 3-hour and 48-minute showdown at State Mutual Stadium was the longest home game of the season for the Rome Braves. It overtakes the previous high that was set in a 3-hour and 34-minute slugfest in May 30’s 7-6 ten-inning win over Greenville. Sunday’s slugfest also ties Rome’s longest game overall this season, as the Braves fell 5-4 in eleven innings at Bowling Green on July 23 which was another 3-hour and 44-minute contest.

Ynoa finished with an ERA of 27.00 and received the loss in Sunday’s contest. Mitch Stallings (3IP, 3H, 1BB, 1ER, 3K), Marrick Crouse (1IP, 1K), Noguera (1IP, 2H, 2BB, 3ER, 3K), Hartman (1IP, 2H, 2BB, 3ER, 3K), and Tyler Ferguson (1IP, 1H, 1BB, 1ER) all pitched in relief.

Philip (1-3, HR, R) led the offense with three RBI. Designated hitter Mitch Calandra was 2-for-4 with one run scored while Harris went 1-for-4 with a double and one run batted in.

After Sunday’s defeat, the Rome Braves gain no ground on third-place Greenville in the High-A East South. The fourth-place Braves trail the Drive by 3 games in the division and are 11.5 games behind second-place Greensboro and 18 games behind division-leading Bowling Green.

The Rome Braves will hit the road over the next two weeks for back-to-back High-A East South pairings. The R-Braves travel to Greenville for a six-pack against the Drive from Tuesday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 8 before playing at the Hickory Crawdads from Tuesday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 15.

Rome returns home on Tuesday, Aug. 17, to start a six-game series against the Greenville Drive. The Braves and Drive will face off each day at State Mutual Stadium through Sunday, Aug. 22.

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