Sunday’s final score – Wilmington 7, Rome 1
(Media release from the Rome Braves):
The Rome Braves and Wilmington Blue Rocks wrapped up a six game series on Sunday, with Lisandro Santos on the mound for the Braves and Mitchell Parker getting the ball for the Blue Rocks.
Wilmington would strike first in the top of the third with a Nick Banks triple that scored Jose Sanchez to put the Blue Rocks up one to nothing. Israel Pineda’s double to left would drive in Nick Banks from third to give Wilmington a two to nothing lead headed into the bottom of the third.
Rome would find themselves in a prime position in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded and only one out. But clutch pitching from Wilmington would escape the jam while only allowing one run. Tyler Tolve would drive in the lone run for the Braves with a sacrifice fly to plate Justyn-Henry Malloy.
Wilmington would break it wide open in the bottom of the seventh, as Drew Mendoza, Yasel Antuna, and Omar Meregildo would all drive in runs for the Blue Rocks to put them up six runs to one. Wilmington would cap off the scoring with a Ricardo Mendez single to plate Yasel Antuna to put the Blue Rocks up seven runs to one.
The lone bright spot of Sunday’s game would be Jake McSteen and Trey Riley’s relief appearances. McSteen would work two perfect innings, allowing no runs, hits, or walks in the fifth and sixth innings. Trey Riley would also notch a scoreless frame, allowing only one hit in the top of the eighth.
With the seven to one loss, Rome now falls to three games back in the division while trailing Hickory and Bowling Green. The Braves wrap up the twelve game homestand with five wins and seven losses, and now shift their attention to the Asheville Tourists. Rome and Asheville will tee it up (in North Carolina) for six straight June 14th through June 19th.