Rome 6, Savannah 2

The Rome Braves defeated the Savannah Sand Gnats 6-2 Tuesday night at State Mutual Stadium before a crowd of 2,050. Willie Kempf continued his dominance at home for the Braves with two runs over six and a third innings to help lead Rome to victory. Kempf has now given up a mere eight runs over his last 47 1/3 innings of work at State Mutual Stadium. Game three of the series will be tomorrow at 1pm.



Edward Salcedo got things started for the Braves in the bottom of the second with a leadoff single. After David Rohm roped a single of his own to put runners on the corners, Matt Weaver poked an RBI single to right to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning with two outs and runners once again at first and third, Matt Lipka laced a ball to left centerfield that kicked off centerfielder Darrell Cecilliani’s glove on his diving attempt to rob Lipka. David Rohm scored easily from third and the speedy Tony Mueller raced all the way home from first to score on a close play at the plate to extend Rome’s lead to 3-0.



In the bottom of the fifth Lipka struck again, this time with a leadoff double. Evan Gattis would bring Lipka home later in the inning after lining an RBI single off the left field wall extending the Braves’ lead to 4-0.



Savannah would not score until the top of the seventh when Blake Forsythe (8) blasted a two run homer over the centerfield wall. After Joe Bonfe led off the inning with an infield single Forsythe cut Rome’s lead to 4-2 with the two run shot. Chasen Shreve would come in to relieve starter Willie Kempf for the Braves and worked out of a one out bases loaded jam to hold the 4-3 lead.



Rome added two insurance runs in the ninth on a Salcedo RBI double and a run scoring sacrifice fly by Matt Weaver making it a 6-2. Gus Schlosser came on in the ninth to close the door for the Braves and send Rome home with their second straight victory over the first place Sand Gnats.



Willie Kempf (4-3) earns the win for Rome and Yohan Almonte (7-7) takes the loss for Savannah - from team press release