O'Day Spotless, Braves Keep Rolling

ROME, GA - The Rome Braves and Greenville Drive met once again on Friday night as Royber Salinas toed the rubber for the Braves as Atlanta's No. 26 overall prospect.

Rome would get on the board in the home half of the first as Cal Conley continued his hot streak, doubling home Jacob Pearson to put the Braves up one run to none.

In the home half of the second, Jacob Pearson's hit by pitch to score Beau Philip and Cal Conley's sac fly to score Willie Carter would give the Braves a three run to none lead headed into the third.

Royber Salinas would hit a rough patch in the top of the third, as Max Ferguson would get Greenville on the board with a single into center that scored Nick Decker. A Matthew Lugo home run would tie the game at three runs each, but that is all the offense Greenville could scrape together.

Cade Bunnell would put the Braves up for good in the home half of the third with a rope shot double to straight away center. A Javier Valdes single, a Beau Philip single, and a Tyler Tolve sacrifice fly would give the Braves a eight run to three advantage.

Royber Salinas would call it a night after going four full innings and giving up three runs on four hits, but striking out eight.

Atlanta Braves reliever Darren O'Day would be the first man out of the bullpen, working a perfect top half of the fifth. Malcolm Van Buren, Ben Dum, and Trey Riley would combine for four shutout innings with five strikeouts.

The continued dominance of the Rome bullpen would give the Braves the win by a final score of eight runs to three. The win on Friday night would be their fifty-ninth of the season, and their twenty-third of the second half. The Rome Braves are still a game and a half ahead of the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

The Braves and Drive will continue the series tomorrow night for game five, with JJ Niekro on the mound for the Braves with a 6:00 PM first pitch.