Rome 2, Savannah 0

Randall Delgado (4-8) no-hit Savannah through the first seven innings before being taken out of the game to start the eighth due to a pitch count in Rome’s, 2-0, shutout of Savannah Friday night at State Mutual Stadium. Raul Reyes would break up the no-hit bid on the first pitch from reliever Michael Mehlich in the eighth inning.

The Braves got to starter Robert Carson (8-8) early as Carson walked the first man he faced, Shane Moody, in the first. After an Omar Infante single, Adam Milligan, who was 3-for-3 last night, singled in Moody to give Rome the early lead.

Carson settled down to get out of the inning and went on to pitch five frames, allowing just the one run on six hits. He struck out four and walked two as he lowered his season ERA to 2.80. Brad Burns would allow the other Rome run in the sixth in his first appearance with Savannah in 2009. That run also followed a Burns’ walk as Joel Campusano doubled in Luis Sumoza.

The Gnats did make a case to tie it once again in the ninth when Jefry Marte doubled with one out for the Gnats second and final hit of the ballgame. After Wilmer Flores struck out, Sean Ratliff drew a walk to bring the go-head run up to the plate in Josh Satin. Mehlich was removed in favor of Cody Railsback, who induced a Satin lineout to left on the first pitch he threw to end the game. It was the first save of the year for Railsback.

Savannah pitching has been good in the series, allowing fewer than three runs for the third straight game in tonight’s loss. The Gnats offense has scored just seven runs in the four-game series thus far.

With the loss, the Gnats now fall back to an even .500 and 5.5 games behind Asheville for first place in the SAL Southern Division. Asheville defeated Bowling Green tonight, 9-7.