Catfish win finale

The Columbus Catfish are no more.

But they went out winners.

The Catfish are moving from Columbus, Georgia, to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the 2009 season. And they played their final game today -- a road game against the Rome Braves. The Catfish won the game, 5-2.

Rome got on the board in the 1st inning, scoring a pair of runs on a walk, a double, a single, and an RBI ground out, taking a 2-0 lead.

The Catfish narrowed the gap in the 2nd inning. RF Quinn Stewart hit the first pitch of the inning over the left field wall, his 8th Catfish home run of the year.



Stewart hit 4 additional home runs for Vero Beach early in the year, before re-joining the Catfish, giving him 12 for the year overall.

In the 4th, LF Stephen Vogt reached on an error to lead off the inning. With 2 outs, 2B Chase Fontaine singled, setting the stage for 1B Henry Wrigley's 3-run homer.



Wrigley's 7th home run of the year gave the Catfish a 4-2 lead.

The Catfish added another run in the 6th, on an error by Rome CF C. J. Lee, who dropped what would have been out three on a fly ball by Fontaine. The error allowed Stewart, who had singled, to score, making the score 5-2 in favor of the Catfish.

P Jason Ragan won his first game since July 19th, a string of 2 losses wrapped around 3 no-decisions. Ragan allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out a pair, while walking two. John Baird, Jose Angel Mejias, Kevin Boggan, and Justin Garcia eached pitched an inning of relief, with Garcia getting his 7th save. Rome managed only 2 hits off the Catfish bullpen, which didn't allow a walk.

Fontaine, Stewart, as well as CF Maiko Loyola each had a pair of hits. Wrigley was the only other Catfish batter to get a hit, but his 3-run homer helped provide the margin of victory.

The win closes out the Catfish existence with 2 wins in a row, and 5 victories in their final 6 games.

Catfish clobber Rome

The 2008 baseball season is winding down. And the Columbus Catfish are looking to end on a positive note.

On Sunday afternoon, the Catfish beat the Rome Braves, 11-1, evening the series at a game apiece:

Catfish fall to Rome

The Columbus Catfish opened the final series of 2008 -- and their final series as the Columbus Catfish -- with a loss to the Rome Braves.

Rome broke the game open in the 6th inning, taking the first of the 3-game set by a 6-2 score on Saturday night:

Catfish split with Rome, inch closer to elimination

Family of Columbus/Phenix City native Adam Coe with one of his two home run balls he hit against the Catfish tonight

Either the Columbus Catfish or the Augusta GreenJackets (Giants) will win the South Atlantic League Southern Division. And Augusta got a lot closer tonight. The Catfish split a pair of games with the Rome Braves tonight, dropping the first game, 12-3, but picking up the nightcap, 13-5. The split, coupled with Augusta's win puts their magic number -- the number of Augusta wins or Catfish losses to clinch the division for Augusta -- at two. The only good news in game one was for the local players was a local player hitting two home runs. Columbus/Phenix City native Adam Coe, however, plays for Rome. Game two was all Catfish, with the home team scoring in 5 straight innings.

Catfish swept, fall to 2nd place

The hot streak for the Columbus Catfish cooled slightly against the Rome Braves.

Rome beat the Catfish for the second straight night -- by a 5-4 score on Tuesday night -- as they swept the Catfish in the short, 2-game series.

Catfish falter, maintain division lead

The Columbus Catfish lost for only the 2nd time in the 2nd half, falling to the Rome Braves 11-6 Monday night.

It was a difficult night for both starting pitchers. The South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week, Catfish starter Jeremy Hall, didn't make it out of the 3rd inning, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits in 2-2/3 innings work. The Rome starter, Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton, struggled as well, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in 3 innings work.

Catfish sweep Rome

Stephen Vogt homers for the Catfish.

The second half run continues for the Columbus Catfish.

The Catfish turned 13 hits into 11 runs as they swept the Rome Braves tonight, 11-2, taking both games of the short series.

Catfish walk off win win

Maiko Loyola scores winning run vs Rome.

The Rome Braves played long ball. The Columbus Catfish played baseball.

Baseball won.

Rome scored 4 runs on 4 solo home runs, but the Catfish used singles, walks, stolen bases, and wild pitches to scratch out 5 runs -- the final run coming in the bottom of the 9th -- as the Catfish won 5-4 tonight.

Catfish end first half splitting with Rome

The South Atlantic League 2008 season first half wrapped up Sunday afternoon for the Columbus Catfish with a doubleheader split with the Rome Braves.

The Catfish won the first game, 4-1, but dropped the latter, 3-0, as they take a break for the SAL All-star game.

Catfish bats come alive, edge Rome

After nearly two hours of a delay for rain, the Columbus Catfish fell behind early, but battled back with runs in the late innings to eek out a 7-6 win over the Rome Braves Friday night.

Catfish take series from Rome

Following a heartbreaker the night before, the Columbus Catfish scored late to take the finale of the series with the Rome Braves, 5-3. The win gives the Catfish the series, 2 games to 1.

Catfish fall to Rome in 11

The Rome Braves bounced back from a pounding the night before to edge the Columbus Catfish 3-2 in 11 innings on Saturday night.

The extra-inning loss spoiled another good outing from Catfish starter Alex Cobb, who left the game with the lead after 6 innings.

The Rome Braves got on the board in the first inning after CJ Lee doubled and later scored on a Freddie Freeman RBI groundout for the 1-0 advantage. In the fourth inning, Columbus' Shawn Williams singled, Chase Fontaine walked, and Greg Sexton reaches on a fielding error allowing Williams to tie the game. Fontaine later scored on a groundout to give the Catfish the 2-1 lead. In the seventh Rome tied the game 2-2 on a Yohan Silva home run (2) to right field.

Rome claimed victory in the 11th inning after Michael Fisher reached on an error and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Benji Johnson. In his first game back as a Rome Brave since being recalled from extended spring, Samuel Sime then lined a single to center scoring Fisher for the 3-2 victory.

Rome reliever Cory Gearrin gets the win (3-1) while Austin Hinkle takes the loss (0-1) for the Catfish. It was the first home victory for the Braves since May 1st.

The series wraps up Sunday afternoon. The Catfish head to Savannah for 4 games starting Monday.

Catfish sack Rome

When in Rome ... kick some serious butt.

The Columbus Catfish, who had dropped 19 of 23 ... including a 12-in-a-row streak just a few days ago ... broke out big time, clobbering the Rome Braves 11-1 Friday night in Rome.

Catfish stop slide, end home stand with win

Greg Sexton drove in a pair of runs in the 1st inning to stake the Columbus Catfish to an early lead, and the Catfish took advantage of some Rome miscues as they beat the Braves 5-2 Wednesday night, closing out a home stand with a win.

In the Catfish half of the 1st, CF Emeel Salem singled, stole second, and move to third on a ground out. RF Reid Fronk was hit by a pitch. Then Sexton, the Catfish 3B, tripled to right, putting the Catfish up 2-0.



The lead increased to 3-0 in the 2nd. 1B Henry Wrigley singled. 2B Joey Callender laid down a bunt that succeeded in moving Fronk to second. But as Fronk reached second, third was unguarded, and he beat the throw and the third baseman to the bag. When the throw went to the screen by the third base picnic area, Fronk scored, and the Catfish were up by three.

Rome closed the gap in the 5th, 3-2, on a 2-run triple by SS Michael Fisher.

DH Cody Cipriano scored in the bottom of the 5th on an error, after having doubled, and moving to third on a ground out.

The Catfish capped the scoring in the 7th, when SS Omar Luna scored on a sacrifice fly by Cipriano.

The Catfish only managed 7 hits on the night, and Luna was the only Catfish player with two hits. But made the most of their opportunities, leaving just 4 runners on base.

Starter Jason Ragan allowed 6 hits over 5 innings, allowing at least 1 Rome base runner in every inning after the 1st, but the Catfish managed to keep Rome off the board, save the 2-run triple in the 5th. Ragan struck out 4, and picked up his 4th win of the season, tied for the league lead.

John Baird pitched 3 innings of relief, allowing a pair of hits and striking out 3. Travis Risser allowed a 2-out single in the 9th, but struck out local player Adam Coe to secure the win and pick up his 4th save.

The win gives the Catfish a split on the home stand, and 3 wins in 4 games against Rome during the home stand.

Thursday, the Catfish play the first of four games at division leader Charleston, before returning home on the 29th for four against Asheville.

Catfish slide continues

That 5-game winning streak is starting to fade from memory now. The Rome Braves handed the Columbus Catfish their 4th straight loss tonight, 6-1, as the home stand winds down.

Rome built a 6-0 lead over the Catfish tonight, scoring a run in the 3rd on a single and a double; 3 in the 4th on 3 singles and a double; and a pair in the 6th on a double and 2 singles.

Catfish starter Josh Johnson was plagued by ground and fly balls that seemed to avoid the Catfish defense, as Rome tallied 10 hits in 5-2/3 innings, en route to the 6-0 lead.

Reliever Justin Garcia fared better, allowing a single in the 7th, but no other Rome base runners, striking out 5 along the way. Jesse Darcy pitched a perfect 9th for the Catfish.

Offensively, the Catfish had a hard time getting going.

2B Cody Cipriano doubled in the 1st inning, but was thrown out at home trying to score on a Greg Sexton (3B) single to end the inning.

The Catfish loaded the bases in the 3rd. SS Omar Luna singled then stole second and third. LF Reid Fronk was hit by a pitch, and Sexton walked, but the Catfish were unable to push anyone across.

The Catfish got on the board in the 7th, when DH Shawn Williams scored on an error, after reaching on a fielder's choice, then advancing to third on a Luna single and a ground out by CF Emeel Salem.

The Catfish managed a base runner in the 8th, and two in the 9th, but were again unable to score.

The loss drops Johnson to 1-2, and ups his ERA to 4.35.

Luna was the only batter to gather more than 1 hit, as Rome held the offense to 6 hits. Still, the Catfish had their chances, leaving 11 runners on base, 5 in scoring position.

With the loss, the best the Catfish can hope for on the home stand is an overall split. They beat Rome in 2 games to start the stand, then lost 3 of 4 to Charleston, before tonight's loss. A win tomorrow night earns a home stand split, and would give the Catfish a 3-1 home stand record against Rome. Jason Ragan (3-0, 0.47 ERA) takes the mound for the Catfish Wednesday night.

Catfish win in 10, reach .500

It took extra innings, but the Columbus Catfish reached the .500 mark for the first time this season by beating the Rome Braves 2-1 tonight.

Rome jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, scoring in the top of the first on two doubles ... with a walk sandwiched in between.

Rome managed 7 hits in the first 4 innings, but couldn't score beyond that sole run in the first inning. Starter Josh Johnson got out of a bases loaded jam in the 3rd inning, and C Mike McCormick threw out three Rome base runners trying to steal, including 1 in the top of the 10th inning. Rome left 9 runners on base, 5 in scoring position.

Rome's pitching staff kept the Catfish off balance most of the night. Through 5 innings, the Catfish had 1 hit, an infield single by Emeel Salem in the 4th. The first Catfish batted ball to leave the infield, left the outfield, too. DH Cody Cipriano hit a solo home run that tied the game in the 6th inning.

The Catfish only managed one other hit before the 10th inning. But in the 10th, they managed to finally string some hits together.

With 2 outs, 1B Henry Wrigley singled up the middle. 2B Joey Callender reached on an infield single, setting up the win, when SS Omar Luna singled down the right field line, scoring Wrigley and giving the Catfish a 2-1 win.



Luna was the only Catfish batter to have more than 1 hit. He went 2-for-4, raising his average to .405, 3rd highest in the league.

Johnson allowed 1 run on 6 hits in 5 innings work, walking a couple and striking out four. Travis Barnett made his first appearance for the Catfish tonight. The right-handed side-arm pitcher went 2 innings, allowing 1 hit, walking 2, and striking out 3. John Baird pitched the 8th, 9th, and 10th innings, allowing 1 hit, walking 1, and striking out 3, and got the win, his first.

Local native Adam Coe was DH for Rome tonight. He had a single and a double, and was caught stealing.

The win was the Catfish' 3rd in a row and 5th of their last 6 games. They've evened their season record to 7-7, the first time this year they've been at .500. And, it's their first sweep, although a short 2-game series.

The Catfish are off Thursday, opening a 4-game series with division leader Charleston on Friday night, before hosting Rome again for another pair of games.

Catfish surge continues

After opening the season with three straight losses, and 6 losses in their first 8 games, the Columbus Catfish rebound continues. The Catfish beat the Rome Braves 6-3 tonight, to improve their record to 6-7, their 4th win in 5 games.

Rome jumped out to an early lead, scoring single runs in each of the first three innings.

The Catfish tied it up in the bottom of the third. With 1 out, LF Shawn Williams singled and moved to second when SS Omar Luna walked. CF Emeel Salem picked up two RBIs on a double down the left field line. 2B Cody Cipriano follwed with a walk. A double steal put both runners in scoring position, and Salem scored on a ground out by RF Maiko Loyola, tying the game at 3.

Things stayed knotted up until the 6th inning, when Loyola hit his 2nd home run of the season, a high fly ball that dropped over the wall in right-center, putting the Catfish up 4-3.

The 8th inning saw the Catfish extend the lead. With 1 out, 3B Greg Sexton walked, then scored on C Stephen Vogt's double to center that got away from Rome CF Carlos Lee. Vogt didn't get the RBI, but the run was earned, because, with 2 outs, 1B Henry Wrigley singled, scoring Vogt from second, and making it 6-3, Catfish.

The Catfish bullpen did a great job of shutting down Rome. Starter Glenn Gibson went 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, striking out a pair. Reliever Christopher Fessler pitched 2 innings, allowing a double by Columbus/Phenix City native Adam Coe in the 6th inning, hitting one batter, walking another, striking out a pair, and picking up the win, his first of the year.

Brian Flores pitched 2 perfect innings, striking out 5 of the 6 batters he faced. Travis Risser set down the 3 Rome batters in the 9th inning to pick up his 3rd save.

Salem was the only Catfish batter to have more than 1 hit, a single and a double. He had 2 RBIs. Loyola had a pair of RBIs.

The short, 2-game series with Rome ends tomorrow night. SAL Pitcher of the Week Jason Ragan is scheduled to be on the mound for the Catfish, squaring off against Rome left-hander Eric Barrett.

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.

Catfish winning streak ends at ... one

That didn't last long.

After finally notching their first win of the season Sunday afternoon, the Columbus Catfish lost for the 4th time in 5 games, dropping an 8-6 decision to the Rome Braves on the road tonight.

It started out right, with the Catfish getting on the board first. With 2 out in the 2nd, C Mike McCormick walked and stole second. RF Maiko Loyola doubled him home, then scored on a single by 1B Henry Wrigley, to put the Catfish up 2-0.

In the 3rd, with 2 out, DH Reid Fronk doubled, then scored when 3B Gregory Sexton reached on an error, making it 3-0.

Rome closed the gap to 3-1 in the bottom of the inning, then took the lead in the 4th on a single, a homer, a walk, and a pair of doubles.

Down 5-3, the Catfish tied it up in the 5th. Wrigley led off with a double to left, then scored when SS Omar Luna tripled. Following a pitching change, Luna came home on a sacrifice fly by CF Emeel Salem, knotting the game at 5.

Rome retook the lead in their half of the 5th on a 2-run homer by Rome RF Jason Heyward.

In the 7th, the Catfish narrowed the lead. 2B Cody Cipriano walked to start the inning. With one out, Sexton walked. Following a change on the mound, LF Shawn Williams singled to left, scoring Cipriano.

It's as close as the Catfish would get. Rome added one more in the 8th, putting the score 8-6.

At the plate, Wrigley was 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Fronk was 2-for-5 with a double and a triple. He scored once.

Overall, the Catfish had 9 hits, including 4 doubles and 2 triples. Additionally, 7 batters walked, and another 2 reached on errors. However, 3 runners were picked off first, and the Catfish left 9 runners on base, 6 in scoring position.

Defensively, the Catfish didn't commit an error, and they caught one Rome runner trying to steal.

P Jeremy Hall went 4 innings, allowing 5 runs, all earned, on 6 hits (including a 2-run homer) and a walk. He struck out 3.

Reliever Justin Garcia pitched 2 innings, allowing a pair of runs on a pair of hits, including a 2-run homer, and struck out 1. He was charged with the loss.

Brian Flores pitched an inning and 2/3, allowing 1 run and 1 hit, striking out 2. Christopher Fessler faced 1 batter, getting the Catfish out of a bases loaded jam in the 8th.

Same two teams Tuesday night in Rome, as the Catfish look to even up the series.