First Game Of The Season

I finally got to go to my first Asheville Tourist game of the season tonight. The woman I am dating is not a big baseball fan (why am I dating her?) so my opportunities to attend have been rare. The Tourists and the Rome Braves made sure I did not overstay my welcome as they completed a 9 inning game in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Rome won 4-2 as Asheville could only muster 5 hits and their 2 runs came on two solo homeruns by Second Baseman Michael Benjamin. Rome starter Daniel Watts kept Tourists batters off balance by mixing in a high 80's fastball and a slow curve. He struck out 8 in 7 innings, only allowing 3 of the hits and one run. Third Baseman Ryan McMahon had two hits, a single and a double, and Ramiel Tapia had the only other hit, a single in the 9th inning. Tourist starter Konner Wade pitched a strong game, giving up 4 runs in 7 innings. He only made two mistakes on solo homeruns by Blake Brown and Victor Caratini. Rome manufactured a run in the top of the First on an infield single, a wild pitch, a ground out and another single. The other run scored on a fly ball that was lost in the sun by Left Fielder Max White. I did get to see the strangest double play I think I have ever seen at a game. Rome Catcher Victor Caratini was on First Base when batter Jacob Schrader swung at a pitch in the dirt for strike three. Tourist Catcher Jose Briceno kept the ball in front of him but Schrader kicked the ball away from him and Caratini advanced to second as a result of that. Caratini was called out because of batter interference and the Tourists had a double play although it was not called that in the box score. Two outs on one pitch equals double play. Jose Briceno had a great game behind the plate as he threw out a runner at second on a steal attempt and picked off Carlos Franco twice at first base.