Rome pitchers combine on 4-hit shutout to beat Hoppers
ROME, Ga. ― Right-hander A.J. Puckett and two relievers combined on a four-hit shutout, and the Rome Braves beat the Greensboro Grasshoppers 6-0 on Thursday night at State Mutual Stadium. Jared Triolo went 2-for-4, and Matt Gorski was 1-for-2 with a double and two walks to lead Greensboro (37-26). The
ROME, Ga. ― Right-hander A.J. Puckett and two relievers combined on a four-hit shutout, and the Rome Braves beat the Greensboro Grasshoppers 6-0 on Thursday night at State Mutual Stadium.
Greensboro lead-off hitter
Winning pitcher Puckett (3-1, 3.38 ERA) was dominant, allowing two hits and a walk in seven scoreless innings, striking out five.
UNCG alumnus Andrew Moritz went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the Braves' offense, and highly-touted outfield prospect Michael Harris was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Florez, a 21-year-old right-hander, was promoted to Greensboro from the Low-A Bradenton Marauders on Tuesday. He was 5-2 with a 1.37 ERA in 10 games for Bradenton, striking out 71 in 52 2/3 innings.
Florez took the roster spot of 22-year-old right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, who was placed on the 7-day injured list. Mlodzinksi, rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 10 prospect in Pittsburgh's farm system, took himself out of his last start in the fourth inning after feeling tightness in his right shoulder.
Infielder Andres Alvarez had the Hoppers other hit Thursday. He was 1-for-2, was hit by a pitch and stole two bases.
NOTES: Triolo, who is Greensboro's regular third baseman, played shortstop on Thursday while highly-touted prospect
In his career at the News & Record, journalist Jeff Mills won 10 national and 12 state writing awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors, the Society for Features Journalism, and the N.C. Press Association.