The Rome Braves were hoping they would have an abbreviated workload during their stay in Asheville.

Instead, they’ll be on the job again today.

And it will be the most important day of the season.

The Braves lost to the Tourists on Friday night, 6-2, in Game 2 of the South Atlantic League Southern Division playoffs, which means that the “if-necessary” game will indeed be necessary to determine which team advances to the SAL championship series.

The Braves, who are in the postseason for the first time since 2006, will face the Tourists in the decisive game of this best-of-three series tonight at 6:05 p.m. at McCormick Field.

The Braves were just 12 outs away from completing a sweep on Friday night, as they carried a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning.

But Asheville rallied for three runs against Rome starter Greg Ross in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. The key hit of the inning was Taylor Featherston’s two-run homer.

The Braves responded with a run in the top of the seventh to cut Asheville’s lead to 3-2, but the Tourists scored three runs against the Braves’ bullpen over the final two innings to secure the win and even the series at 1-1.

Ross Heffley gave the Braves an early lead when hit a solo homer with two outs in the third inning, and Ross stubbornly protected the advantage until the Tourists put together the game-changing rally in the sixth.

Ross was lifted after the sixth, having allowed three runs (all earned) on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Relievers Ronan Pacheco and Wilson Rivera combined to allow three runs in 1 2-3 innings.

Tonight, the Braves will look to extend one of the most memorable seasons in team history.

The Braves — who are celebrating their 10th season in Rome — owned the SAL’s worst record in the first half of the season, but bounced back to win the Southern Division’s second-half title by producing the league’s best record.