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Rome Emperors starting pitchers dominated the visiting Greenville Drive last week, but the hosts won only two of five games from Tuesday, June 24, to Saturday, June 28.

Across the five games, RomeÐÔÊӽ紫ý starters allowed two earned runs and 11 hits across 28 innings, good for a 0.64 ERA and 3.54 hits per nine innings. However, Rome hitters were equally shut down by Greenville pitching; the Emperors combined for just seven runs across the five games.

Last weekÐÔÊӽ紫ý series was initially scheduled to be six games, but poor weather conditions in Rome postponed the Sunday, June 29, game. It will be made up in August.

Poor weather also postponed the Friday, June 27, game, but it was made up Saturday, June 28. Rome and Greenville were already scheduled for a game that day, so the sides played two seven-inning games; each team won one of the two.

Through June, Rome had a 32-41 record on the season and a 3-5 record in the second half of the South Atlantic League season. It is 2.5 games behind first-place Bowling Green (6-3) in the SAL South and one game behind Asheville (5-4) for a playoff spot.

The Emperors return to play Tuesday, July 1, with a split series against Bowling Green. It is scheduled to host the Hot Rods from Tuesday, July 1, to Thursday, July 3, and play in Bowling Green from Friday, July 4, to Sunday, July 6.

Rome last met Bowling Green in April, for the Emperors’ second series of the year. The Emperors and Hot Rods split that six-game series in Bowling Green.

Emperors 2, Drive 1

Tuesday, June 24

Rome opened its second consecutive series with a win and did so in style.

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, RomeÐÔÊӽ紫ý Patrick Clohisy led off the frame with a near perfect first-pitch bunt, catching Greenville off balance and reaching first safely. The speedy centerfielder then stole second and had no issue scoring the walk-off run from there on Titus DumitruÐÔÊӽ紫ý opposite field single.

As would become the trend in the series, both teamÐÔÊӽ紫ý starting pitchers dominated their outings. GreenvilleÐÔÊӽ紫ý John Holobetz allowed one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts through five innings and RomeÐÔÊӽ紫ý Herick Hernandez kept a shutout through six innings with one hit. Neither received a decision.

Each side was scoreless through four innings. Rome only broke the 0-0 tie when Ambioris Tavarez singled off of Holobetz in the fifth to score Mason Guerra, making his High-A debut, from second.

Hernandez kept his shutout through six innings and reliever Royber Salinas, making his Rome debut as part of a rehab assignment from Triple-A Gwinnett, carried it through the seventh. Greenville only got on the board when Justin Riemer scored from third on Isaac GallegosÐÔÊӽ紫ý two-out, bases loaded wild pitch. But Gallegos forced a groundout from Nazzan Zentello on the next pitch, ending the inning and preventing a lead change.

Rome reliever William Silva (1-0) allowed a hit and a walk but struck out two in his scoreless ninth inning. GreenvilleÐÔÊӽ紫ý Danny Kirwin (4-4) ceded RomeÐÔÊӽ紫ý walkoff.

Guerra, a first baseman, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 14th round of last yearÐÔÊӽ紫ý MLB Draft. He hit .133 in Single-A Augusta last season and .240 there before promotion this year. In his High-A debut, he went 1-for-3 hitting sixth and playing first.

Drive 6, Emperors 2

Wednesday, June 25

Rome starting pitcher Jacob Kroeger (0-2) allowed only one hit and one earned run through six innings, but a ninth-inning defense and pitching collapse with two outs meant the Emperors’ two bottom-of-the-ninth runs were merely consolation instead of a consecutive walk-off.

Down 1-0 heading into the ninth, Rome reliever Logan Samuels took the mound for Jacob Gomez. Samuels got the first out from Miguel Bleis without issue, ceded a single to Nelly Taylor and got a second out from Nazzan Zanetello. He then allowed Greenville to double its lead on Antonio AndersonÐÔÊӽ紫ý RBI double. Anderson advanced to third on an attempt to tag Zentello out. Samuels then walked Yophery Rodriguez on four pitches and committed an error off Freili EncarnacionÐÔÊӽ紫ý weak contact to load the bases. Will Turner singles to score Anderson and Rodriguez, Hudson White reloaded the bases by reaching base on Lizandro EspinozaÐÔÊӽ紫ý throwing error and Franklin Arias scored Encarnacion and Turner with a single. After conceding his fifth run of the inning, Samuels was relieved by Ryan Bourassa, who struck Bleis out to end the horror inning.

Rome scored its only runs of the game in the bottom of the ninth; Justin Janas singled to score Titus Dumitru from third and Mac Guscette hit a fly ball to center to score Mason Guerra.

Blake Aita (1-1) received GreenvilleÐÔÊӽ紫ý winning decision.

WednesdayÐÔÊӽ紫ý game featured the High-A debut of 21-year-old Panamanian infielder Luis Sanchez, called up to Rome from Single-A Augusta before the series. Sanchez was hitting .224 in Augusta before promotion. In his Rome debut, he played third base and hit ninth; he went 0-for-2 with a walk.

Drive 2, Emperors 1 (11)

Thursday, June 26

Pitching continued to dominate Thursday as both sides refused to concede (or score) a run between the eighth and 10th innings.

It wasn’t until the top of the 11th with one out that Greenville finally snapped the 1-1 tie on Will TurnerÐÔÊӽ紫ý bases loaded sac fly to score Johanfran Garcia.

Rome hitter Mason Guerra flied out in the bottom of the 11th and Ambioris Tavarez and Jace Grady were struck out by Greenville reliever Matt McShane (2-0) to strand extra-innings runner WIll Verdung on second and end the game.

The Emperors actually struck first thanks to savvy baserunning from South Atlantic League steals leader Patrick Clohisy. After reaching base on a fielderÐÔÊӽ紫ý choice, Clohisy swiped second. He then also stole third, but did so on a wild pitch from Greenville pitcher Brandon Clarke. Closhisy took advantage of the loose ball, rounding third and scoring for a 1-0 lead.

But that was RomeÐÔÊӽ紫ý only run of the game, and it came without a hit. The Emperors actually recorded only one hit throughout the game, a ninth-inning Verdung single to lead off the second. Verdung stole second and reached third, but was left stranded there.

Rome starter Riley Frey exited the game after 5 1/3 no-hit innings, but his spotless start was undone by reliever Cory Wall in the seventh. Wall relieved Frey for the final two outs of the sixth inning, which he achieved via a fly out and strikeout, but allowed Garcia to single to start the seventh. Garcia advanced to second on Yophery RodriguezÐÔÊӽ紫ý single and to third on Freili EncarnacionÐÔÊӽ紫ý flyout, and scored on WallÐÔÊӽ紫ý bases-loaded walk of Will Turner.

Samuel Strickland pitched the eighth and ninth innings for Rome with two hits and no runs, and Rob Griswold (2-3) pitched the 10th and 11th.

Emperors 2, Drive 0 (7)

Saturday, June 28

In the game originally scheduled for Saturday, Rome pitchers Garrett Baumann (2-4) and William Silva combined to allow five hits but no runs for a seven-inning shutout. Baumann went the first 5 2/3 with four hits and five strikeouts and Silva conceded a lone single in the final 1 1/3. The latter earned his second save of the season.

RomeÐÔÊӽ紫ý runs came in the second inning when Mason Guerra, recently promoted to Rome from Single-A Augusta, hit his first High-A home run, and in the sixth inning when Titus Dumitru grounded into a double play but scored Patrick Clohisy from third in the process.

Greenville starter Noah Dean (1-3) earned the losing decision despite striking out seven Rome batters in five innings.

Drive 1, Emperors 0 (7)

Saturday, June 28 (makeup of June 27 postponement)

In the game originally scheduled for Friday, Rome mustered only one hit, a Harry Owen third-inning single, but impressively allowed only one run on six Greenville hits.

Pitcher Adam Maier (3-6), making his first appearance for Rome since a spot start for Triple-A Gwinnett on June 21, went five innings with five hits and four strikeouts. He allowed the gameÐÔÊӽ紫ý only run in the second inning when GreenvilleÐÔÊӽ紫ý Albert Feliz singles to left field to score Freili Encarnacion from second.

Rome pitcher Royber Salinas, in Rome as part of a rehab assignment from Gwinnett, allowed one hit and struck out four batters in the final two innings.

Drive pitcher Michael Sansone (2-1) received the winning decision.

Tickets to the Emperors game originally scheduled for Friday, June 27, may be redeemed for tickets to any regular season home game the rest of the season by emailing GoEmperors@GoEmperors.com, according to an X (formerly Twitter) post from the team on Friday, June 27.

Game postponed

Sunday, June 29

Due to storms in Rome, SundayÐÔÊӽ紫ý game was postponed. It will be made up in August when Rome visits Greenville, according to the team.

Tickets to the Emperors game originally scheduled for Sunday, June 29, may be redeemed for tickets to any regular season home game the rest of the season by emailing GoEmperors@GoEmperors.com, according to an X (formerly Twitter) post from the team on Sunday, June 29.