‘Burgers fall again by a run at Rome

ROME, Ga. — Both offenses got off to a hot start on Friday night in Rome. The Spartanburgers and Emperors finished the fourth inning tied at five. Rome (24-27, 57-58) put up a lone run in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead over Hub City (19-33, 53-65), and the Emperors held on the rest of the way.  

Cade Kuehler worked around a hit batter and a walk to hang a zero in the top of the first. Caden Scarborough headed to the mound for Hub City in the bottom half. Last week, Scarborough allowed eight runs in his final inning of work. That trend continued Friday night when Carter Beck and Conor Essenburg tagged him for back-to-back singles to start. With one out, Luis Guanipa ripped a double to left-center to score Beck. Cody Miller followed with a two-run single to put Rome in front 3-0. 

Hub City fought back in the second. Antonis Macias was hit by the first pitch of the inning. Brandon Crabtree then tripled him home, his first hit with the Spartanburgers. Arturo De Freitas promptly scored Crabtree with a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game.  

Rome got the two runs back in the second with three straight one-out hits. Colin Burgess began the frame with a double. Beck followed with an RBI triple, and Essenburg capped it off with a single to score Beck. The Emperors then loaded the bases with two outs before Scarborough put an end to the threat. 

After both teams went down in order, Macias was again hit to start the fourth. A walk to Crabtree and a single from De Freitas loaded the bases. Evan Morrison then skied a sacrifice fly to score Macias. Carter Lovasz entered to replace Kuehler. His wild pitch sent both runners into scoring position, and a Casey Cook single brought them both to the plate to tie the game. Lovasz (W, 1-0) remained in the game through the sixth and did not allow another base hit. 

Scarborough finished his night with another one-two-three inning in the fourth. Wily Villar took his place in the fifth. Guanipa blasted the second pitch he saw to start the inning over the left-field wall to power Rome back in front by a run. Villar (L, 0-1) proceeded to strand a pair of runners in scoring position in the fifth. The righty remained in for a scoreless sixth and seventh.  

Justin Long took over for Rome in the seventh. The righty reliever struck out the first two he faced as part of a clean inning. The eighth played out in the exact same manner. Jesus Gamez tossed a clean bottom of the eighth, so Long (S, 4) trotted back out for the ninth with a 6-5 lead in hand. With one out, Long hit Morrison to put the tying run on base. Morrison was then thrown out at first on a back pick, and a strikeout ended the game.  

Rome holds a 4-1 series lead after Friday’s narrow victory. The two square off again on Saturday night at 6:45 p.m. ET. Rome will go with righty Aiven Cabral (4-3, 3.38 ERA) to start. Hub City has not announced a pitcher yet.