One Inning Sinks Tourists as Drive Win 8-4

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Andrew Taylor made his first appearance at HomeTrust Park since August of 2025 Friday night and was sharp throughout. Devin Futrell was even better. For five innings it was exactly the kind of tight, well-pitched game the crowd of 4,001 came to see. Then a seven-run sixth inning changed everything, and the Greenville Drive pulled away for an 8-4 win, one that could have gone differently if not for eleven Asheville runners left on base.

Taylor was excellent in his return to HomeTrust Park, going 4.1 innings and allowing just one run while striking out three. Futrell matched him and then some, spinning six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. The game was tightly contested through five innings with Greenville clinging to a 1-0 lead.

The only run against Taylor came in the second when he loaded the bases on three straight walks and an Antonio Anderson groundball was enough to score Ronny Hernandez from third. 1-0. Everything else Taylor did was clean.

Then came the sixth.

Andrew Marrero had flown in from West Palm Beach earlier in the day, where he had been pitching for the Astros' Florida Complex League team, and was added to the roster before first pitch. He finished the fifth with a quick groundout. Then the sixth arrived.

Yoeilin Cespedes doubled to lead off. Luke Heyman walked. Both advanced on a passed ball before a wild pitch scored Cespedes from third. 2-0. Maximus Martin singled to score another. Ethan Frey made a nice running catch in shallow left for the first out. A Stanley Tucker sacrifice fly made it 4-0. Then Hudson White stepped in. He had not hit a home run all season. With two runners on and a hanging breaking ball to hit, he crushed it over the left field wall. 7-0. Isaiah Jackson homered on the very next at bat. 8-0. Marrero was done. His final line read one inning pitched, seven runs, five hits, and two walks.

Colby Langford and Francisco Frias came on to close out the game and were outstanding, combining for 3.1 scoreless and hitless innings while striking out seven.

The Tourists didn't go quietly. John Garcia singled to score a run in the seventh. Then Frey launched a twisting ball to the right field corner that curled just fair around the foul pole in the eighth for his first home run at HomeTrust Park since returning from injury. 8-3. Asheville got two more in scoring position that inning but left them stranded.

The ninth gave the crowd of 4,001 a moment. Garcia singled to lead off and Neyens followed with a single to score him. Frey bounced one to short where Cespedes threw to third, but Neyens slid around the tag to put runners on the corners. Anthony Huezo drew a full count walk to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate. Jack Moss hit a well-struck fly to center that had the crowd on its feet before dying for a fly out. Kyle Walker struck out to end it. Bases loaded, tying run at the plate, and nothing to show for it.

Asheville went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left eleven men on base.

Frey was outstanding, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and a walk. Moss went 2-for-5 to extend his hit streak to eight games. Neyens went 2-for-3 with two walks, pushing his season walk total to 90, third in all of baseball across both the majors and minors combined.

Asheville and Greenville meet again Saturday night at HomeTrust Park. Parker Smith takes the ball for the Tourists against Greenville's Dylan Brown. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.