Indians Win Fourth Straight
Rome now 3-0 versus local rival

(Little Falls, NY) Jeremy O’Neil and Kyle Barrett each had two hits, and Blake Wyatt pitched a complete game as the Rome Indians defeated the Mohawk Valley Red Legs 3-2 at Veterans Memorial Park on Tuesday night.

The win gives Rome a season-high four game winning streak, and improves the Indians to a perfect 3-0 against Mohawk Valley.

Interestingly, Rome had defeated Mohawk Valley by an identical 3-2 score last Friday in Little Falls.

Similar to the game on Friday, the Indians struck first, this time in the fourth inning. With one out, Kevin Ryan walked, then moved to second on a Kyle Barrett single. Justin Cone then drove in Ryan with an RBI single to leftfield to give Rome a 1-0 lead.

The Red Legs would not waste much time tying the score 1-1, as Fernando Alvarez hit a solo homerun to centerfield in the bottom of the fourth inning.

However, the Indians would take the lead for good in the top of the sixth.

Matt Devins and O’Neill lead off with back-to-back singles. A Ryan infield ground out scored Devins, while a Barrett single plated O’Neill to make it 3-1.

Mohawk Valley would make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and no one on, Alvarez hit a hard ground ball to shallow right field. The ball deflected off of second basemen Josh Pardo, as he attempted to make a diving catch, and went into the corner, allowing Alvarez to go to second.

Shaen O’Connor followed with a RBI single cutting the deficit to 3-2, but Wyatt would get Matt Pali to fly out to leftfield to end the game.

The turning point of the game came in the bottom of the fifth with the score still tied 1-1. With one out, Mohawk Valley had runners at first and second. Nonetheless, Richie Gasbarro hit a groundball right at the third basemen O’Neil, who touched third base for one out and then threw to first to complete an inning-ending double play.

On the mound, Wyatt earned the Indians fourth complete game of the season, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking only one. The performance by Wyatt continues a pattern of solid pitching outings during the Indians four-game winning streak.

Starters Pat Dougherty, Dan Sullivan and David Rodriguez have each looked strong during their outings during the win streak.

Additionally, at the plate, Rome is starting to show signs that they are getting used to the wood-bats.

The Indians return to action Thursday night when they play at Watertown at 7PM. Then on Friday Rome travels to Plattsburgh for a 3PM doubleheader before returning home on Saturday for a 5PM doubleheader versus Wayne County.

Box Scores

Game 1

Rome	000	102	000	-	3	7	0
Mohawk Valley	000	100	001	-	2	6	1

WP: Blake Wyatt (2-1)
LP: Brad Downs (NA)
S: None

2B: MV- Matt Pali, Fernando Alvarez

HR: MV- Fernando Alvarez

Time: 2:16