ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists won Wednesday's rubber-match against the Rome Braves 7-3 to claim another series at McCormick Field. The victory keeps the Tourists in a tie for first place in the SAL Southern division. Asheville has dropped only one series since June 27th.The scoring began when Max George raced
ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists won Wednesday's rubber-match against the Rome Braves 7-3 to claim another series at McCormick Field. The victory keeps the Tourists in a tie for first place in the SAL Southern division. Asheville has dropped only one series since June 27th.
The scoring began when Max George raced around the bases from first on a Braves throwing error. George finished the game with two hits and two walks. Niko Decolati made it 2-0 in the third with a solo Home Run to straight-away centerfield.
The Braves managed to plate a pair of runs in the top of the fourth off Asheville's starting pitcher Ryan Feltner . Those two runs were the only damage Feltner allowed. The Rockies fourth round pick used his fastball and slider to keep Rome's hitter off balance all game. Feltner finished with five innings and five strikeouts to notch his seventh win of the season.
Cade Harris immediately put the Tourists back on top with a two-run Home Run in the bottom of the fourth. Cristopher Navarro made it 5-2 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Asheville then added two more on a trio of seventh inning doubles by Kyle Datres , Coco Montes , and John Cresto . Datres, the reigning SAL Player of the Week, finished the game 3-for-3 with two walks and two stolen bases.
Reagan Todd , Jacob Bosiokovic , and Will Tribucher combined to limit the Braves to just one unearned run over the final four frames. Asheville's three relief pitchers, much like Feltner, were rarely in trouble.
The homestand continues on Thursday night with the Charleston RiverDogs coming into town to open a four-game series. Charleston has won 10 of 12 and currently sit two games back of Asheville.
