Tuesday night’s final score: Greensboro 2, Rome 0
(Media release from the Rome Braves):
After winning four straight to take their second consecutive series victory, the Rome Braves sent right-hander JJ Niekro to the mound to welcome the Greensboro Grasshoppers to town.
In his first start since August 4th, Niekro would get the ball rolling early as he struck out the first two batters he faced while retiring the side in order. Niekro would follow up his spotless first inning by striking out the side in the second inning.
Niekro would face the minimum through two and a third before Luke Brown would single to get Greensboro in the hit column. Niekro’s one blemish on the night would be a Jack Brannigan home run to put the ‘Hoppers on the board two runs to none. Niekro would finish the night with a season-high seven strikeouts over five innings.
Despite four scoreless innings from Patrick Halligan and Jonathan Hughes out of the bullpen, Greensboro would only need two runs to take the series opener thanks to a dominant outing from Peach State native Bubba Chandler.
Chandler, a product of North Oconee High School, would hurl seven shutout innings against the R-Braves on Tuesday night while fanning six.
Drake Baldwin would lead Rome in hits in the series opener after going two for four to raise is season batting average to .247.
The Braves and Grasshoppers will continue the six game slate on Wednesday night with a 7:00pm first pitch.
In other news from the Rome Braves –
Kyle Wright (shoulder) is set to begin a rehab assignment with the Rome Braves on Thursday. The 2017 first round pick and 2021 World Series Champion last pitched on May 3rd in Miami. In four starts this season, Wright totaled 16.2 innings and posted a 4.86 ERA. After leading all of MLB in wins last season with 21 and finishing 10th in National League Cy Young voting, Wright begins his journey back to Atlanta’s rotation in Rome.
This will be Wright’s first appearance in a Rome Braves uniform; after being taken fifth overall out of Vanderbilt, Wright bypassed High-A and made his MLB debut in September of 2018. The Huntsville, Alabama native will start Thursday night’s game against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The first pitch is set for 7:00 pm EDT.
But wait! There’s more news from the Rome Braves –
The Atlanta Braves have promoted 2022 first-round draft pick and number five overall prospect Owen Murphy to High-A Rome.
In Augusta, Murphy posted a 4.71 earned run average over
eighteen starts. His six wins come with ninety-seven strikeouts over seventy-two and two thirds of an inning pitched. He will wear jersey number twenty-four.
Additionally, outfielder Brandon Parker has been reinstated from the Rome 7-Day Injured List and promoted to AA Mississippi. Parker was named SAL Player Of The Week on July 23rd before being placed on the injured list.
Rolddy Munoz has been reinstated from the Rome Injured List and is active tonight.
Bryson Worrell has been transferred from Mississippi and placed on the Rome Development List.
