Tourists Beat the Heat and Gnats on Wednesday

Savannah, GA - The Asheville Tourists survived the heat to defeat the Savannah Sand Gnats 4-2 in 13 innings Wednesday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats entered the day tied with the Greenville Drive for first place in the Southern Division, and leave the tied since the Drive lost to the Greensboro Grasshoppers by a similar 4-2 margin.

The Tourists (30-36) scored two unearned runs off reliever Paul Paez in the 13th to break a 2-2 tie that had lasted since the sixth inning. The inning began when left fielder Vicente Lupo dropped a line drive that allowed left fielder Drew Weeks to go to second base. After a sacrifice bunt and a pair of intentional walks loaded the bases, second baseman Luis Jean singled the other way through the drawn-in infield to plate Weeks with the go-ahead run. Sean Dwyer lofted a sacrifice fly for the second run.

The Gnats (35-31) scored single runs in the first and second innings to build a 2-0 lead, but did not score again. In the first, left fielder John Mora singled on the ground into right to chase home second baseman Jonathan Johnson. In the second, Johnson flared a single into right to score centerfielder Patrick Biondi who had singled and stole second. Savannah left two runners on base in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings.

Asheville evened the game at 2-2 off starter Martires Arias in the sixth inning. Arias had allowed just two hits, both singles, through the first five innings. 

The Sand Gnats will take on the Tourists Thursday at Historic Grayson Stadium for the rubber match. The Gnats will start RHP Scarlyn Reyes (3-3, 3.29), while Asheville will send RHP Grahamm Wiest (2-0, 2.25) to the hill. Tomorrow will be Budweiser Thirsty Thursday with half-priced regular sodas and draft beers all night long brought to you by Budweiser, E-93, Connect Savannah, and I-95. Gates will open at 6 PM and first pitch is set for 7:05 PM.