ASHEVILLE- In front of a packed house at McCormick Field on Friday night, Ramon Marcelino stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The score was tied 5-5 and Marcelino worked a two ball, two strike count. The next pitch came
ASHEVILLE- In front of a packed house at McCormick Field on Friday night, Ramon Marcelino stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The score was tied 5-5 and Marcelino worked a two ball, two strike count. The next pitch came in and Ramon hammered it off the right field wall for a walk-off winner.
The Tourists won the game 6-5 when Ryan Vilade crossed home plate in the ninth; however, it was a game that Asheville never trailed. The Tourists scored in the first inning on a GreenJackets wild pitch. Augusta tied the score in the second via a bases-loaded walk.
Matt McLaughlin then gave Asheville some cushion. The second baseman knocked in a run in the third and added a two-run single in the fifth. Nic Motley 's Home Run in the sixth gave Asheville a 5-1 lead.
Nick Kennedy was spectacular for Asheville. The starting pitcher tossed five innings, allowed just two hits, and struck out a season-high nine batters. Kennedy did not factor in the decision because Augusta would mount a rally late.
The GreenJackets scored three runs in the seventh and tied the game in the eighth. Asheville went to Tommy Doyle and the right-hander retired all six batters he faced to give the Tourists a chance to walk-off in the ninth.
Sean Bouchard finished 3-for-5 with three doubles. Marcelino also finished with three hits. McLaughlin, Motley, and Bret Boswell all chipped in two hits. Asheville can clinch a winning home record in the first half with one more win over their next two games.
