More Eighth Inning Magic Gives the Tourists a 6-5 Win

ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists have put up some big eighth innings at McCormick Field this season. Just two days ago Asheville scored four runs to tie Greenville and eventually win in the ninth. Earlier in the season the Tourists recorded a nine-run eighth inning. Tuesday night, the Tourists trailed the Bowling Green Hot Rods 5-2 entering the eighth. Asheville scored four runs in their favorite frame and beat Bowling Green 6-5.

All four runs were scored with two outs. Alex McKenna singled to start the rally. Enmanuel Valdez made the score 5-4 with a two-run Home Run over the scoreboard in right-centerfield. It was Valdez’s second Home Run in as many games. Scott Schreiber then singled to keep the rally alive. Matt Barefoot stepped to the plate and launched a massive go-ahead two-run Home Run to left. It was Matt’s first hit as a Tourist.

The Hot Rods did a lot of their damage early. Bowling Green jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The visitors added a run in the top of the third before the Tourists responded with a McKenna solo Home Run in the bottom half.

Colin Barber brought the Tourists to within a run with a solo Homer in the fourth. Following Barber’s longball, the Bowling Green pitching staff retired 13 in a row. The Hot Rods offense used that time to add insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

Matt Ruppenthal, who earned the win with four innings pitched out of the bullpen, recorded back-to-back strikeouts in the top of the eighth with a runner at third to ensure the deficit did not grow any larger. Ruppenthal worked the ninth and retired the side in order.

Asheville had only two hits over the first seven innings, both Home Runs, but the eighth inning once again proved to be where the magic rested. This was the Tourists seventh come-from-behind win in their nine victories on the year.