Dugouts Empty as Tempers Flare in 4-3 Tourists Win

ASHEVILLE--The Asheville Tourists opened up a seven-game homestand Wednesday night with a 4-3 victory over the West Virginia Power. Eric Toole's first professional Home Run and a crazy skirmish highlighted the evening.
West Virginia took a 2-0 lead after plating a pair of two unearned runs in the top of the first. Asheville's Jose Gomez made it 2-1 with a leadoff Home Run in the bottom of the first. Both starting pitchers, the Tourists' Erick Julio and the Power's James Marvel, settled in following the first inning.

With the score still 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Luis Castro came to the plate with one out. On an 0-2 pitch Castro was hit in the head by a Marvel fastball. Castro took offense and started walking to the mound. Both dugouts emptied. Both bullpens emptied. A melee ensued. Punches were thrown by several players; however, the umpires and coaching staffs were able to separate the two teams before anyone was hurt.
Castro was ejected for Asheville while West Virginia's Arden Pabst and Hunter Owen were tossed. Julio was then ejected after his first pitch in the fifth inning. It was a fastball high and tight to Clark Eagan and the umpires immediately tossed Julio along with Tourists Manager Warren Schaeffer.
After the scuffle, Toole gave the Tourists a 3-2 lead with a bomb to straight away centerfield. Both teams exchanged runs later in the game but Justin Lawrence was able to nail down the save. Matt Dennis earned the win with three scoreless innings pitched out of Asheville's bullpen.