Braves Catch Fish in Home Stand Opener

Rome, GA – The Rome Braves defeated the Columbus Catfish 11-6 Monday night at State Mutual Stadium in front of 3,095 fans.

Columbus got on the board in the second inning thanks to an RBI single by Shawn Williams for the 1-0 score. The Catfish added three runs in the third on three consecutive RBI singles by Quinn Stewart, Reid Fronk, and Steven Vogt giving Columbus the 4-0 lead.

Rome took the lead in the bottom half of the inning highlighted by RBI singles by Freddie Freeman and Adam Coe and an RBI triple by Michael Fisher putting Rome on top 5-4. The Braves added two more runs in the fourth making the score 7-4 on an RBI single by Chad Lundahl, and RBI groundout by Freddie Freeman.

Columbus added two runs in the fifth on a two run homer (1) by Quinn Stewart but Rome put the game away in the bottom of the inning on a grand slam by Jason Heyward (8) giving the Braves an 11-6 lead. The Rome bullpen held the Catfish the rest of the way to close out the win.

Rome starter Mike Hampton threw 59 pitches, 41 for strikes going three innings allowing three earned runs in a major league rehab appearance. Steven Figueroa (1-0) gets the win for the Braves while Jeremy Hall (2-2) is tagged with the loss for the Catfish.

The annual Independence Day fireworks show will be held tomorrow, July 1st. For ticket information, contact the Rome Braves at 706-378-5144 or log onto www.romebraves.com.