Shewmake, Mejia Slam Augusta in 11-0 Rome Victory
ROME, GA - The Rome Braves concluded their pivotal series against 1st place Augusta with an 11 run thrashing of the GreenJackets on Sunday afternoon, delivering the home team a series win and drawing the Braves to within 2 games of the Southern Division lead with three weeks remaining in
ROME, GA - The Rome Braves concluded their pivotal series against 1st place Augusta with an 11 run thrashing of the GreenJackets on Sunday afternoon, delivering the home team a series win and drawing the Braves to within 2 games of the Southern Division lead with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
The Rome lineup erupted for 11 runs on 9 hits and also took 10 walks, giving them plenty of run-scoring chances throughout the game. The pitching staff was led by starter LHP
Rome manufactured some early damage against former Braves farmhand RHP
In the 5th Rome's reigning Player of the Month,
It was in the 8th inning when Rome blew the game open. Already up 5-0 the Braves went to work on the Augusta bullpen. Cullen took a bases-loaded walk, making it 6-0 and Shewmake followed with the dagger: a grand slam homerun out to left for a 10-0 lead. It was Rome's first grand slam of the season. An additional run would score later in the inning on an RBI triple from Fernandez, capping the scoring and allowing the Braves to cruise to an 11-0 win against their rival and win three of four games in the series at State Mutual Stadium.
Mejia was brilliant all afternoon, pitching 7 innings and surrendering just four hits, all singles. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.
The Rome pitching staff ended the series by firing 19 consecutive scoreless innings. All three Braves wins in the series came via shutout.
Shewmake finished his day going 3-4 with a homer, walk, four RBI and four stolen bases. Fernandez was 2-4 with a triple, walk and two RBI. Cullen went 1-4 with a triple, a walk and two RBI.
Rome now departs for a long road trip through the Carolinas, playing three games Monday-Wednesday in Asheville and then going to Columbia for a four game set beginning Thursday evening. Rome's next home game is August 20th versus Kannapolis.