Still Alive; Tourists Take Finale in Kannapolis

KANNAPOLIS- The Asheville Tourists once again took the Kannapolis Intimidators right down to the wire and came out victorious. Asheville kept their playoff hopes alive with a 5-4 win in ten innings for their fourth win over their last five contests.
The Tourists plated four runs in the top of the first inning but Kannapolis answered with two in the second and two more in the third. The game remained tied 4-4 through the next six innings. A rain delay forced the two teams to play the waiting game after the ninth inning finished but Asheville was ready to go in the tenth.

Casey Golden moved Sean Bouchard over to third with a flyout to right and Bouchard scored the eventual game-winner on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the tenth the Intimidators used a sacrifice bunt to move the tying run to third. Tommy Doyle then induced a groundball to Matt McLaughlin who threw home in time to record the out. Doyle struck out the next batter to secure the win.
Asheville's bullpen combination of Erick Julio , Hayden Roberts , and Doyle combined to pitch 5.2 shutout innings. Doyle recorded his 17th save of the season with the flawless tenth inning. The Tourist were held to a total of just four hits in the game; however, they drew six walks.
PLAYOFF SCENERIO:
The win keeps Asheville in the playoff conversation. The Tourists open up a four-game homestand against the Rome Braves on Friday. Asheville needs to win all four games against Rome and have Lexington lose three of their final four games to force a tiebreaker. If Lexington loses all four and the Tourists sweep the Braves then Asheville would be the outright second half winners. If the Tourists lose one more game they are officially eliminated.