(Media release from the Rome Braves):
Major League rehabber Kyle Wright felt his way through three scoreless innings Thursday, and the Braves won, 4-3 thanks to two longballs from Drake Baldwin.
The first of Baldwin’s solo shots came as early as the first inning when, with two outs, Baldwin sent an opposite field blast off the scoreboard in left center to make it 1-0. His perfect night at the plate would continue in the third; his RBI single to right scored Stephen Paolini from second to double the Rome lead. Baldwin passed the baton to McCabe who would single-in another baserunner to make it 3-0 entering the fourth.
Kyle Wright lasted three innings in his first start since early May, and, aside from a first inning comebacker that deflected off the rehabber’s glove, he was superb. Wright struck out 4 and retired nine straight to finish his start. A run in the top of the fifth and two more in the seventh off Jorge Bautista gave the Grasshoppers life late in the game. Bautista stretched his outing to 4.0 innings and was rewarded with the win.
Baldwin’s second homer of the game and 13th of the summer was pulled to deep right and exited overtop the visitors’ bullpen in the fifth. Closer Miguel Pena would take the reins with a one run lead and hold off the Hoppers in their last two at-bats.
The Braves have now won 2-of-3 against the ‘Hoppers and have Owen Murphy on the mound Friday looking to make it three straight. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm EDT.
