Braves must make up for last week’s mistakes

Rome is still in the hunt for the first-half title.

With one week left in the first half, there is still a slight chance the Rome Braves can capture the South Atlantic League Southern Division. But if they want to make up 3.5 games in eight to go, they must correct the problems that have kept them behind.

Rome currently stands at 34-28 after beating Asheville 4-2 on Saturday night. But a four-game losing streak early in the week helped Greenville maintain its division lead and allowed the Columbia Fireflies to jump ahead of the Braves as well.

The four-game stumble was a byproduct of the two largest Achilles heels Rome has had all season, errors and a lack of power hitting.

The Braves committed 11 errors in the four losses, leading to 10 unearned runs. The numbers go along with what has happened all season, with Rome ranking fifth in the SAL with 47 unearned runs allowed.

On Tuesday, the team gave up

five errors in an 11-3 loss to Augusta. And in Thursday’s 7-6 loss to Augusta, an error to begin the bottom of the ninth led to the winning run.

And while the team currently ranks second in the league in hits with 531, it is in last place with only 126 extra-base hits for the season.

This past week has not been much different, with the Braves recording only 11 extra-base hits in their last six games.

Rome managed to get back on track a bit with a pair of wins this weekend. No errors in Friday’s 2-0 win helped Ian Anderson throw six scoreless against Asheville, and a Lucas Herbert two-run double put Rome ahead for good on Saturday.

Performances like that are essential if Rome wants to close the division gap in these final eight games. Fortunately, the Braves finish the first half this weekend with a three-game series against Greenville at State Mutual Stadium.