Catfish bounce back big

When things go right, they go very right.

Things went right for the Columbus Catfish tonight in Rome. The Catfish beat the Braves 14-1.

In the 2nd, with 1 out, RF Maiko Loyola and C Mike McCormick both singled, then moved up on steals. Loyola scored on a grounder to short by 1B Henry Wrigley. McCormick scored on a single by 2B Joey Callender, giving the Catfish a 2-0 lead.

CF Emeel Salem led off the 3rd with a single to center, then scored on a double by DH Cody Cipriano. Cipriano moved to third on a ground out, then, with 2 outs, scored on a wild pitch.

In the 4th inning, the Catfish broke it open. McCormick walked. Wrigley singled, but was erased trying to take second. Callender reached on an error, scoring McCormick. Luna and Salem singled to load the bases. Callender was forced home when Cipriano walked. LF Reid Fronk doubled, scoring Luna, Salem and Cipriano. Following a pitching change and a fly ball out, Loyola walked. McCormick doubled scoring Fronk and Loyola, giving the Catfish an 11-0 lead.

In the 5th, with 1 out, Salem walked, then scored on a double by Cipriano. Fronk then tripled, plating Cipriano, and putting the Catfish up 13-0.

Rome closed the gap 13-1 in the bottom of the 5th, and it stayed that way until the 9th.

Luna led off the Catfish half of the 9th with a single, then moved to 3rd on a double to center by Salem. With 2 outs, Sexton singled in Luna, putting the Catfish up 14-1. And that's how it ended.

Every Catfish starter had at least one hit tonight, as they pounded out 16 hits. Salem was 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, and 3 runs scored. Cipriano, Fronk, Loyola, McCormick, and Luna each had a pair of hits. Fronk's 4 RBIs led the team.

On the mound, starter Alex Cobb showed why he's one of the Rays top prospects, going 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 run, and striking out 4. Reliever Travis Risser pitched 3 innings relief, allowing 2 base runners, one on a walk, and striking out a pair to pick up the save.

The win evens the series with Rome at a game apiece. Game 3 of the 4-game series is tomorrow night.