‘Hoppers Erase Five-Run Deficit, but Emperors’ Hotter Bats Prevail

ROME, Ga – A five-run second inning and nine-run eighth inning squashed the hopes of the visiting Greensboro Grasshoppers in Tuesday's 14-5 win at home.

Every Rome Emperor in Wynston Sawyer’s starting nine scored at least once in the series-opening win, and, in the cases of Tate Southisene, Isaiah Drake, and Owen Carey, twice, and, in the special case of Dixon Williams, three times. Williams’ Grand Slam in the eighth inning off of Greensboro’s Yulian Quintana brought the monstrous nine-run frame full circle for the Emperors who had seen a five-run lead disappear over prior six innings.

Rome sent all nine to the plate in the third inning and every swinging penguin had a role to play. Drake, Carey, Guerra, and Hartman all registered singles. Williams, Southisene, and John Gil drew walks. And Colby Jones and Colin Burgess sacrificed their at-bats to strategically move runners around the bases.

After enjoying an 11-out stretch of dominance, Emperors starting pitcher Cam Caminiti fell two outs shy of completing five innings; a pair of triples from the 8-1 batters in the order forced him from the game and turned the game over to Jacob Kroeger and the bullpen. Kroeger (1.2IP, H, BB), Drew Christo (1.1IP, 2ER, 3BB, 2SO), and Riley Frey (1.2, H, BB, SO, BS) watched the lead stagger and eventually fall in the eighth.

With the game tied, Greensboro issued five walks and hit a batter in the home half of the eighth. Gil and, of course, Williams, punished the ‘Hoppers for their pitching shortcomings, driving in a combined six runs on two swings. But it was Southisene’s bases loaded walk that initially broke the tie before things got ugly. All told, the Emperors went 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position on Tuesday and drove in 10 runs with two outs.

The Emperors and the Grasshoppers are back in action on Wednesday. Game two is set for 6:45 PM ET.