Davidson, late offense leads Rome to shut out win

ROME, Ga. – Some revenge for Tucker Davidson and big hits from the middle of the order carried the Rome Braves to a victory on Wednesday.

Davidson tossed six shutout innings just before Rome snapped a scoreless tie in a 4-0 victory over the Lakewood BlueClaws in a South Atlantic League game at State Mutual Stadium.

Rome (47-45) had been held scoreless in its previous 15 innings dating back to Sunday's victory over Delmarva before getting the only run it'd need in the bottom of the sixth.

A pair of bunt singles from Marcus Mooney and Randy Ventura opened the frame and after a fielder’s choice forced Mooney at third base, No. 3 hitter Cristian Pache ripped a single up the middle that chased home Ventura to put Rome up 1-0.

That made a winner out of Davidson, who struck out four and allowed five hits in an 84-pitch effort. In his previous start, the 19th round selection in the 2016 draft out of Midland College allowed four earned runs in a loss to the same Lakewood team. The Braves made several nice plays defensively to help preserve the shut out.

Lakewood loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second on singles from Edgar Cabral, Luke Williams and Jesus Alastre. Daniel Brito lifted a fly ball hooking towards the left field foul line that Ventura caught, and with the catcher Cabral tagging up and looking to score, Ventura’s throw to the plate was perfect to complete the inning-ending double play.

After No. 9 hitter Jesus Alastre drew a four-pitch walk to start the fifth, Davidson immediately induced a double play to keep the game scoreless. Davidson then picked off Mickey Moniak after the 2016 No. 1 overall pick walked to open the sixth. Lakewood (51-44) still had a runner at second with only one out when Darick Hall scorched a double just inside the line at first base. But Davidson closed his day with a strike out and an infield pop up.

Austin Bush was a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth and made a sparkling play of a hard hit ground ball by David Martinelli. That was part of a stretch where relievers Bladimir Matos and Matt Custred retired the final eight batters of the game.

The Braves tacked on insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, and the rally began with sloppy play from the Lakewood battery.

Ventura walked with one out and on his stolen base attempt, Cabral's throw sailed well wide of second and into right-center field. Ventura scampered to third, then scored on reliever Addison Russ' wild pitch to make it 2-0.

Isranel Wilson followed with a triple, Pache walked and clean up man Lucas Herbert's two-run double made it a 4-0 game.

Lakewood starter Bailey Falter was the tough-luck loser. The left-hander and fifth round selection in 2015 out of Chino Hills High School (Calif.) went seven innings and struck out seven, allowing just the sixth-inning run. It was the 10th time in 16 starts he'd surrendered two runs or less.