Rome beats local rival
Indians defeat Mohawk Valley 3-2

by Scott Montesano
Rome Indians Marketing Intern

(Little Falls, NY) Matt Devins's two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference as the Rome Indians edged the Mohawk Valley Red Legs 3-2, Friday night at Veterans Park.

With Rome leading 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Terron Acuff hit a two-out single. He then stole second base, and came around to score when Devins delivered an RBI base hit to leftfield.

The run proved crucial, as Mohawk Valley tallied a run in the bottom of the seventh on a Fernando Alvarez RBI single that scored Shaen O'Connor. Mohawk Valley went on to load the bases, with one out, later in the seventh.

However, Indians' relief pitcher Justin Cone came on to strikeout Mike Rozema and Jason Sullivan to end the threat. Mohawk Valley would go down in order in the eigth and ninth innings to close out the game.

The Indians started the scoring in the first when Jeremy O'Neill hit a sacrifice fly to leftfield to score Acuff.

O'Connor tied the game for Mohawk Valley in the fourth with a homerun to left centerfield.

Nevertheless, Rome regained the lead at 2-1 in the sixth when Devins came into score on an infield groundout by Kyle Barrett.

The victory was the first for the Indians, since defeating Mohawk Valley 8-3 on June 11th in Rome. With the win Rome snapped a three-game losing streak, and also ended Mohawk Valley's five-game winning streak.

Pat Dougherty earned the win for Rome to improve his record to 1-1. For Dougherty it was the second consecutive solid appearance for him. The Iona College product, suffered a 1-0 loss against Geneva on June 9 in his first start.

Justin Cone retired all eight batters he faced to earn Rome's first save of the season.

At the plate, Devins went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Acuff added two stolen bases and two runs scored as well.

The Indians return home on Saturday to play Western Division leading Wellsville (5-0 entering Friday), in a 1:00PM doubleheader. On Sunday the Indians travel to Cortland for a 2:00PM doubleheader that will start a six-game road swing for the Indians.

Box Scores

Rome	100	001	100	-	3	4	0
Mohawk Valley	000	000	100	-	1	6	4

WP: Pat Dougherty (1-1)
LP: Scott Chambers (NA)
S: Justin Cone (1)

2B: MV - Shaen O'Connor

HR: MV - Shaen O'Connor (2nd of season)

Rome (3-7) Mohawk Valley (7-4)