GREENSBORO- Chad Spanberger stepped to the plate with two on and two outs in the top of the eighth inning. The Asheville Tourists trailed the Greensboro Grasshoppers by two runs at the time. Spanberger, who failed to capitalize with the bases loaded in two prior at-bats, launched a 2-0 pitch
GREENSBORO- Chad Spanberger stepped to the plate with two on and two outs in the top of the eighth inning. The Asheville Tourists trailed the Greensboro Grasshoppers by two runs at the time. Spanberger, who failed to capitalize with the bases loaded in two prior at-bats, launched a 2-0 pitch over the centerfield wall for a three-run Home Run. That blast gave the Tourists an 8-7 lead; which ended up the final score.
The Home Run by Spanberger also gave the Tourists their first lead in a game in over a week. The Tourists trailed from the start as Greensboro rallied for three runs in the first inning. Ryan Vilade hit a two-run Home Run in the second to snap a 15-inning scoreless streak.
The two teams traded punches the rest of the way. In the fifth, Spanberger hit an RBI single and Matt McLaughlin roped an RBI double to tie the game 4-4. Greensboro promptly answered with two runs in the bottom half.
Nic Motley hit a solo Home Run in the top of the sixth but Asheville left the bases loaded and still trailed. The Tourists left a season-high 12 runners on base.
Once Asheville took the lead, Tommy Doyle and Robert Tyler slammed the door. Doyle pitched a perfect eighth inning and Tyler followed with a one, two, three ninth inning. Tyler earned his seventh save of the season.
Vilade and Bret Boswell each finished with three hits in the contest. Hayden Roberts notched his first win as a Tourist by tossing two innings out of the bullpen and limiting the Grasshoppers to zero earned runs.
