Braves Shutout Drive

Rome, GA – The Rome Braves take game one of their four game series with the Greenville Drive tonight with an impressive 5-0 win at State Mutual Stadium in front of 2,710 fans.

The Braves jumped on the Drive early in the second inning when Jon Mark Owings tripled to right-center and scored on a Brandon Hicks single to left field. Greenville tried to strike back in the top of the third when Matt Sheely led off the inning with a double to left field and stole third with only one out. Cole Rohrbough then struck out the next batter and with two outs induced a fly out to right field.

Rome extended their lead in the bottom of the third as Travis Jones walked, Phillip Britton followed with a single and Julio Franco walked to load the bases. Tyler Flowers reached on a RBI fielder’s choice scoring Jones to extend the lead to 2-0. Owings then lined a single to right field scoring Britton followed by back-to-back walks to Hicks and Yohan Silva to once again load the bases. Owings and Hicks later scored on wild pitches making the score 5-0. Neither team made much noise after the third with both pitching staffs settling down.

Cole Rohrbough remains as hot as the weather earning the win (2-0) for the Braves pitching six shutout innings, striking out seven while issuing just two walks and three hits. Daniel Bard (3-4) is charged with the loss going two and two thirds of an inning while allowing all five runs. Jared Shaffer (1) pitched three scoreless innings to earn his first save of the season.

The Braves continue their series with Greenville tomorrow night at 7 pm. It will be Brian McCann Statue Giveaway Night presented by the State Mutual Insurance and the Rome News Tribune. For ticket information call 706-378-5144 or log on to www.romebraves.com.