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Kim Klement-Imagn Images
The bats couldn’t get it going down in Rome, while they couldn’t slow down up in Gwinnett (0-1) Rome Emperors 1, (1-0) Bowling Green Hot Rods 3
Box Score
Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. CF: 1-for-4, .238/.319/.332
Drew Compton, 1B: 2-for-3, RBI, BB, .285/.387/.405
Stephen Paolini, LF: 2-for-4, .220/.314/.323
Blake Burkhalter, SP: 5IP 4H 1ER 0BB 4K, 1.80 ERA
Rome dropped game one of the division series after the bats went cold following the first inning. Rome scored their only run of the game in the first inning when Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., Jace Grady, and Drew Compton all singled to start the game. After that, Hot Rods starter Chandler Murphy and the rest of the bullpen completely shut down the Rome offense. The Rome offense collected just eight fights, all singles, and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position - not exactly a recipe for success.
It was a tough loss that spoiled what was a fantastic game by Blake Burkhalter who once again looked rather dominant. Blake cruised through five innings, making just one mistake — giving up a solo homer to Hot Rods catcher Tatem Levins. The game remained tied 1-1 until the seventh inning when Riley Frey, pitching his second inning, gave off a lead off double. The Hot Rods went into playoff baseball mode as they moved him over via a sacrifice bunt, and then brought him in via a sacrifice fly to take the lead 2-1. After Riley Frey, Shay Schanaman came into the game and pitched himself into trouble — walking a pair of hitters before giving up a run scoring double to extend the Hot Rods lead to 3-1.
With the game on the line, Rome would unfortunately go 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth inning to drop game one. After a day off today, Rome will suit up with their season on the line on Thursday, September 12th.
(63-74) Buffalo Bisons 2, (69-70) Gwinnett Stripers 13
Box Score
Nacho Alvarez Jr., 3B: 2-for-4, R, BB, .301/.407/.498
Brian Anderson, 1B: 4-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI, .220/.317/.325
Sandy León, C: 1-for-2, 3 BB, 2 R, .187/.337/.273
J.P. Martínez, CF: 3-for-5, GS, 2 R, 5 RBI, .233/.336/.335
Ian Anderson, SP: 6IP 4H 1ER 3BB 6K, 4.27 ERA
This one was all Stripers from the start as the offense completely overwhelmed the Bisons from Buffalo. After going down 1-0 in the top of the second inning — Gwinnett would erupt for six runs in the bottom of the inning. It started with a Brian Anderson double that scored a pair of runs to put the Stripers back up 2-1, and culminated in 413’ Grand Slam by J.P. Martínez that extended the Stripers lead to 6-1.
MARTÍNEZ TO THE MOOOOOOOOON!J.P. MARTÍNEZ LAUNCHES A 413ft @SoFi GRAND SLAM TO GIVE US A 6-1 LEAD. pic.twitter.com/jvDe9Bdjc4— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 11, 2024
With the game now in cruise control, that’s exactly what Ian would do as he would put up zeroes the following four innings. Brian Anderson would tack on another run via a single to extend the lead to 7-1 in the third inning, and J.P Martínez would add on his fifth RBI — scoring Brian Anderson to extend the lead to 8-0. The lead would balloon to 11-1 when Brian Anderson tacked on two RBI double - in the bottom of the fourth.
The game would get a break from some offense as both teams were held scoreless in the fifth and sixth inning but that streak would end in the seventh when the newest Stripers, Cavan Biggio, grounded into a force out that resulted in two runs scoring thanks to a throwing error by the shortstop - extending the lead to 13-1.
Tyler Matzek would make an appearance for the Stripers — giving up a pair of hits and a run, while walking one in the ninth inning.
(61-70) Mississippi Braves X, (63-67) Biloxi Shuckers Y - POSTPONED
<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Atlanta Braves Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VdAOyj43O5rQn6aVWBibYIqEAts=/0x112:1200x912/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73578612/usa_today_20430331.0.png">
Kim Klement-Imagn Images
The bats couldn’t get it going down in Rome, while they couldn’t slow down up in Gwinnett (0-1) Rome Emperors 1, (1-0) Bowling Green Hot Rods 3
Box Score
Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. CF: 1-for-4, .238/.319/.332
Drew Compton, 1B: 2-for-3, RBI, BB, .285/.387/.405
Stephen Paolini, LF: 2-for-4, .220/.314/.323
Blake Burkhalter, SP: 5IP 4H 1ER 0BB 4K, 1.80 ERA
Rome dropped game one of the division series after the bats went cold following the first inning. Rome scored their only run of the game in the first inning when Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., Jace Grady, and Drew Compton all singled to start the game. After that, Hot Rods starter Chandler Murphy and the rest of the bullpen completely shut down the Rome offense. The Rome offense collected just eight fights, all singles, and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position - not exactly a recipe for success.
It was a tough loss that spoiled what was a fantastic game by Blake Burkhalter who once again looked rather dominant. Blake cruised through five innings, making just one mistake — giving up a solo homer to Hot Rods catcher Tatem Levins. The game remained tied 1-1 until the seventh inning when Riley Frey, pitching his second inning, gave off a lead off double. The Hot Rods went into playoff baseball mode as they moved him over via a sacrifice bunt, and then brought him in via a sacrifice fly to take the lead 2-1. After Riley Frey, Shay Schanaman came into the game and pitched himself into trouble — walking a pair of hitters before giving up a run scoring double to extend the Hot Rods lead to 3-1.
With the game on the line, Rome would unfortunately go 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth inning to drop game one. After a day off today, Rome will suit up with their season on the line on Thursday, September 12th.
(63-74) Buffalo Bisons 2, (69-70) Gwinnett Stripers 13
Box Score
Nacho Alvarez Jr., 3B: 2-for-4, R, BB, .301/.407/.498
Brian Anderson, 1B: 4-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI, .220/.317/.325
Sandy León, C: 1-for-2, 3 BB, 2 R, .187/.337/.273
J.P. Martínez, CF: 3-for-5, GS, 2 R, 5 RBI, .233/.336/.335
Ian Anderson, SP: 6IP 4H 1ER 3BB 6K, 4.27 ERA
This one was all Stripers from the start as the offense completely overwhelmed the Bisons from Buffalo. After going down 1-0 in the top of the second inning — Gwinnett would erupt for six runs in the bottom of the inning. It started with a Brian Anderson double that scored a pair of runs to put the Stripers back up 2-1, and culminated in 413’ Grand Slam by J.P. Martínez that extended the Stripers lead to 6-1.
MARTÍNEZ TO THE MOOOOOOOOON!J.P. MARTÍNEZ LAUNCHES A 413ft @SoFi GRAND SLAM TO GIVE US A 6-1 LEAD. pic.twitter.com/jvDe9Bdjc4— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 11, 2024
With the game now in cruise control, that’s exactly what Ian would do as he would put up zeroes the following four innings. Brian Anderson would tack on another run via a single to extend the lead to 7-1 in the third inning, and J.P Martínez would add on his fifth RBI — scoring Brian Anderson to extend the lead to 8-0. The lead would balloon to 11-1 when Brian Anderson tacked on two RBI double - in the bottom of the fourth.
The game would get a break from some offense as both teams were held scoreless in the fifth and sixth inning but that streak would end in the seventh when the newest Stripers, Cavan Biggio, grounded into a force out that resulted in two runs scoring thanks to a throwing error by the shortstop - extending the lead to 13-1.
Tyler Matzek would make an appearance for the Stripers — giving up a pair of hits and a run, while walking one in the ninth inning.
(61-70) Mississippi Braves X, (63-67) Biloxi Shuckers Y - POSTPONED
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