Hot Bats Hand Braves 9-4 Victory Over Tourists

Jesse Franklin V (left) fist-bumps Beau Philip (right) as he enters the dugout after hitting a home run in Rome's 9-4 win over Asheville on July 28, 2021. Philip recorded his fourth homer of the season in the win while Franklin hit a double off the center-field wall. (Mills Fitzner)

July 28, 2021

Tons of offensive production in the second and eighth innings earned Rome (35-39) a hard-fought victory on Wednesday night. The Braves took down the visiting Asheville Tourists (30-41) 9-4 in the second matchup of this week-long series. Rome wasted little time getting things going on offense. The R-Braves plated five

Rome wasted little time getting things going on offense. The R-Braves plated five runs in the second inning to jump out in front. A solo homer by Beau Philip made it 1-0 and that lead was doubled when Andrew Moritz drove in Brett Langhorne on an RBI single. Cody Milligan then doubled, scoring Moritz to make it a three-run difference. Michael Harris tallied a two-run single before the inning’s end to put an exclamation point on the five-run frame.

Asheville would generate a slow and steady scoring attack. The Tourists added two runs in the third and two runs in the top of the seventh to climb back and make it a one-run game.

The one-run difference would be short-lived, however. Rome dropped a four-spot in the bottom of the eighth to pull away from Asheville. Jesse Franklin V doubled off the wall in center field, driving in Kevin Josephina, and a Logan Brown double brought in Harris. A wild pitch allowed Franklin to touch home plate, and a sacrifice fly from Philip scored Brown from third base. Justin Yeager entered in the top of the ninth, recording a quick half-inning to finish off the big home win.

Harris had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Milligan was 3-for-5 with one double, one run batted in, and one run scored, while Josephina went 2-for-4 with two runs. Philip (1-5, HR, RBI, R), Langhorne (1-4, R), Brown (1-5, 2B, RBI, R), and Franklin (1-5, 2B, RBI, R) each had one extra-base hit.

Jared Shuster allowed two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, striking out five batters in that span. Mitch Stallings picked up his first win (1-3) of the season. The Duke product gave up two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched and struck out three Tourists. Matt Hartman (1IP, 2BB, 2K) recorded a hold while Yeager (1IP, 1BB, 1K) threw the final inning.

With Rome’s win, the R-Braves and Tourists have split the first two games of this week’s series. Rome improves to four games below .500 as well. The Braves remain fourth in the High-A East South standings, 17 games behind division-leading Bowling Green, 10 games behind second-place Greensboro, and 3 games behind third-place Greenville.

Rome and Asheville will play for the third time this week on Thursday evening. Gates will open at 6 p.m. EDT while first pitch is set for 7 p.m. in Floyd County.

Thursday’s daily promotion is Thirsty Thursday, in which fans can purchase 12oz fountain drinks and domestic draft beer for just $2 each.

Thursday also marks the second and final night of Rome’s Charlie Culberson Bobblehead Giveaway. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a bobblehead of Rome native and current major leaguer Charlie Culberson. The bobblehead giveaway is presented by Summit Hill Foods/Louisiana Hot Sauce.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit RomeBraves.com/Promotions or call the Rome Braves Box Office at 706-378-5144.