ROME, GA – Anthony Dirocie drilled a solo home run in the ninth inning on Monday to break a 2-2 at State Mutual Stadium in Rome. His first blast of the season all but clinched a 3-2 win for Columbia in the series opener against the Braves.
It was certainly Dirocie’s day. The 21-year-old outfielder not only struck the great blow in the ninth. In the seventh, his run-scoring double tied the game at 2-2. The native of the Dominican Republic finished with a pair of RBIs and perhaps the two-most important hits of the evening.
Columbia’s (5-6) pitching was outstanding again. Simeon Woods-Richardson started his third game and posted three more scoreless frames. The Mets second-round draft choice from a year ago struck out five and didn’t walk any one. The right-hander has now punched out 11 over 7.2 innings this season with no walks.
Willy Tavares (W, 2-0) picked up the win after logging five strong innings in relief against Rome (4-7). Andrew Mitchell (S, 1) picked up the save after retiring the side in order in the ninth. The lefty collected two strikeouts.
The Fireflies pitching staff has struck out 22 batters and walked just one over the last two games, two wins no less. Columbia improved to 3-0 against Rome this season with the win on Monday.
In addition to Dirocie, Hayden Senger (2-for-4, double, run) and Wagner Lagrange (2-for-4) also posted multi-hit games.
SCORING SUMMARY:
Top 4: Brian Sharp bashes a two-out double and plates Hayden Senger. COL 1, ROM 0
Bottom 4: Andrew Moritz and Trey Harris both score runs with singles. ROM 2, COL 1
Top 7: With Jose Miguel Medina at second, Anthony Dirocie slashes a double down the left-field line. Medina scores. COL 2, ROM 2
Top 9: Dirocie smashes solo homer over the left-field wall. COL 3, ROM 2
Columbia and Rome turn around quickly with an 10:30 a.m. first pitch on Tuesday morning. Right-hander Jose Butto is the expected starter for the Fireflies and is scheduled to face Rome’s righty Jasseel De La Cruz.
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