Braves complete big rally

The Rome Braves faced a big deficit early Wednesday night, but they dug themselves out of the hole and rallied for 10-9 comeback victory on the road at Asheville.

Rome (62-42, 26-12 in second half) saw the Tourists build a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first and then added another run in the third to make it 7-0. But the Braves’ bats slowly started to get their team back in it as they scored four in the third, one more in the fifth and then put together a fiverun seventh to go up 9-7.

Asheville (45-56, 19-17) cut the deficit to one with a run in the eighth before Rome pushed the lead back to 10-8 with an insurance run in the ninth. That proved to be very important as the Tourists scored a run in the bottom half of the inning, but they couldn’t get any closer as Trey Riley nailed down the save.

Leading the offense for Rome was Beau Philip, who had a two-hit night with three RBIS, and Drew Campbell, who went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a stolen base and two runs scored. Brandon Parker added a double and two RBIS, Jacob Pearson had two hits, a stolen base and a run scored in the leadoff spot, and Bryson Horne contributed a hit, two RBIS and two runs scored. Tyler Tolve and Caleb Durbin each had a double and scored a run.

Davis Schwab (2-0) earned the win as he pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits and striking out four. Ben Dum went two innings after that to grab his fourth hold as he gave up one run on two hits and struck out one, and Riley earned his third save by pitching the ninth where he gave up one run on one hit, walked three and struck out two.

Jake Mcsteen had a rough night to start the game as he lasted just 2/3 of an inning and allowed six runs on five hits while walking two. Malcolm Van Buren pitched two innings following him and gave up one run on one hit, struck out three and walked three.