Indians Split Twinbill
Rome remains 2.5 behind Schenectady

by Scott Montesano
Rome Indians Marketing Intern

(Colonie, NY) Terron Acuff had a two-run triple, and Soren Johnson pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, as the Indians won the nightcap of their doubleheader against Schenectady Friday night 6-4.

The victory garnered a split of the doubleheader for the Indians, who dropped the first game 5-1.

In the second game, the Indians trailed 2-0 before turning the game completely around in the fifth inning, mainly due to Schenectady's own miscues. Rome scored five unearned runs off of five Mohawks' errors in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.

Steven Suarez started the inning by reaching first on an error by Schenectady first basemen John McGorty. After a fly out by Andrew Buffington, Matt Devins reached on a throwing error by the pitcher Adam Kroft.

Terron Acuff followed with a bases clearing triple to right-center to tie the game 2-2. Acuff scored one batter later when Jeremy O'Neill's ground ball went between the legs of Schenectady second basemen Brian Spamer for the inning's third error.

O'Neill eventually stole second, and would come in to score on a throwing error by the catcher JJ Yant, when he attempted to steal third base.

Cory Newman followed with a single and moved all the way to third on another Mohawks' throwing error, this time by third basemen Nick Shimer. Newman would score to make it 5-2 Rome on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Kevin Ryan.

The Indians then had to dodge a couple of Schenectady scoring opportunities to retain the lead.

Schenectady scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth, before Soren Johnson came in to relieve starter Pat Dougherty. With runners at second and third and the Indians leading 5-4, Johnson was able to induce Bryan Triplett to fly out to center and then strikeout Anthony Ragalani to end the threat.

In the seventh, Johnson again had to work out of a jam, this time created by himself. Johnson hit leadoff hitter Keith Brachold, and allowed a single by Nick Shimer. After a flyout and infield groundout moved both runners into scoring position, Johnson was able to get Hunter Pence to flyout to center to end the inning.

Johnson pitched an uneventful eighth and ninth innings to earn his league-leading fourth save of the season.

Pat Dougherty earned the win, his second of the season.

Newcomer Cory Newman had a breakout game at the plate for the Indians, going 4-4 with a double, two stolen bases and two runs scored.

In the opener of the twinbill, Schenectady's Brian Forgione scattered five hits and walked only one as the Mohawks defeated the Indians 5-1.

Blake Wyatt suffered the loss for Rome to drop his personal record to 3-2.

The doubleheader split means the Indians remain 2.5 games behind Schenectady for first place in the Eastern Division.

Rome kicks off a season high six game homestand Saturday afternoon with a single game against Watertown at 1pm. The Indians will also be home Sunday for a 3pm doubleheader against Plattsburgh. The Indians are scheduled to be in action each of the next seven days, including home games on six of those days.

Box Scores

Game 1

WP: Brian Forgione (3-1)
LP: Blake Wyatt (3-2)

2B: Schenectady - Anthony Ragalani
3B: Schenectady - Geoff Milsom

LOB - Schenectady 6
         - Rome: 2

Time: 1:50

Game 2

WP: Pat Dougherty (2-2)
LP: Adam Kroft (1-2)
S: Soren Johnson (4)

2B: Rome - Cory Newman
                 - Schenectady - Matt Griffiths
3B: Rome - Terron Acuff
                 - Schenectady - Hunter Pence (2)

LOB - Schenectady 10
         - Rome: 3

Time: 2:35

Rome (12-9) Schenectady (15-7)