Rome eliminated from South Atlantic League playoffs last night, losing the three game series 2 games to 1 to the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Rome won the first game in extra innings on a two-out throwing error by the Bowling Green shortstop and then got shelled when the series moved to Bowling Green by scores of 10-1 and 7-1. Rome managed only 13 hits in 27-plus innings of baseball over the series. Royber Salinas pitched well in Game 1, notching 10 strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, walking three and allowing three hits. That performance and a HR in Game 3 from Brandol Mezquita were about the only highlights in the series for the R-Braves.
A lot of guys passed through Rome this season. I have to remember that Vaughn Grissom started the season there and is now in the big leagues and Justyn-Henry Malloy also was a first half stalwart for Rome. The international sanctions and the truncated 2020 draft have put a huge dent in the Braves' prospect depth in the lower levels of the system, but there were some interesting players in both Augusta and Rome this season. I will try to write up some of my impressions at some point.