Rome keeps clicking
A two-run homer from Isranel Wilson leads the Braves to their sixth win in a row.
A two-run homer from Isranel Wilson leads the Braves to their sixth win in a row.
Sometimes all it takes is a little getaway to recharge and get back to doing things well.
The Rome Braves are discovering that as they added to their winning ways Tuesday night with a 5-1 victory over Augusta at State Mutual Stadium.
The win brings the Braves’ streak to six in a row as they work to shake off a stretch where they lost five of six before taking off to Asheville last Wednesday and sweeping the four-game series with the Tourists.
“We go to Asheville and everything started clicking,” Rome manager Randy Ingle said. “The guys started putting on really good at-bats, and we got some real big hits. We continued to get
the good pitching we’ve been getting and playing outstanding defense.
“We’ve swung the bats well for six games, and it’s been solid.”
Tuesday followed that storyline as Rome had 11 hits and got a boost from a two-run home run by Isranel Wilson in the bottom of the fourth to put the Braves
up 2-1. Kurt Hoekstra walked and worked his way to third before Marcus Mooney hit a line drive to left field to bring him in and complete the three-run rally.
Rome’s reliable pitching staff did its part as starter Ian Anderson settled down after the opening inning where a lead-off walk
led to Augusta’s lone run when Carlos Garcia scored from third on a double play.
Anderson allowed just two hits, while Bladimir Matos pitched a 1-2-3 fifth and Taylor Lewis steered for the final four innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three.
“That’s the most he’s thrown all year but he finished it up. He saved our bullpen, for sure,” Ingle said. “We were hoping he could finish it up there, but we weren’t going to take him over the limit. That was huge for us, and he did a really good job out there.”
Jordan Rodgers went 2 for 4 with a double and scored on a Lucas Herbert single in the fifth. The sixth-round pick made play after play at third base, continuing to build his solid infield defense for Rome.
Herbert went 2 for 3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored. The catcher came into the game hitting .273 in his last ten games with a home run and seven RBIs.
The Braves have averaged more than six runs and 11 hits per game during their current streak, which matches their longest of the season. After struggling to find consistency on offense just more than a week ago, Rome is getting into a groove at the plate.
“It’s been a little bit from everybody,” Ingle said. “That’s kind of what we’ve been looking for. Our pitching has been good for the most part. Our defense is really good. So if you’ve got that you need to scrape and get a run here and there, and we’ve been able to get more than that.”
Rome concludes its three-game series with Augusta today with a 1 p.m. game before hosting Asheville for four games to finish out the homestand.