A two-run single by Jacob Bosiokovic put Asheville in front in the top of the 10th inning, and the Tourists held off a Lexington rally in the bottom of the 10th for a 5-4 win Tuesday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. With the score tied 3-3, Legends' reliever Jose
A two-run single by Jacob Bosiokovic put Asheville in front in the top of the 10th inning, and the Tourists held off a Lexington rally in the bottom of the 10th for a 5-4 win Tuesday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
With the score tied 3-3, Legends' reliever Jose Veras retired the first two batters in the 10th, but Manny Melendez and Jose Gomez singled, putting runners at first and third. Colton Welker, the South Atlantic League's leading hitter at .371, was intentionally walked to load the bases, before Bosiokovic, who had entered the game in the ninth inning, grounded a single to left field. Melendez and Gomez scored, giving the Tourists a 5-3 lead.
The Legends came back in the bottom of the 10th. Back-to-back doubles by Manny Olloque and Marten Gasparini produced a run, and Rudy Martin followed with a bunt single, leaving runners at first and third with no outs. Martin then stole second, but Tourists' reliever J.D. Hammer struck out Khalil Lee and Angelo Castellano. Emmanuel Rivera popped up to shortstop Taylor Snyder for the final out, but Snyder nearly overran the ball near the pitcher's mound before making the catch as he fell backward.
There was no score in the game until the Legends took a three-run lead in the bottom of the fifth. Meibrys Viloria drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Olloque's single. An errant pickoff throw to second by Asheville starter Alejandro Requena allowed the runners to move up to second and third, and Gasparini's double scored two runs. Gasparini was thrown out trying to advance to third on his hit. Martin then doubled and scored on a single by Lee.
The Tourists tied the game in the seventh. Welker led off with a single, and after Vince Fernandez struck out, Willie Abreu singled, moving Welker to second. Joel Diaz' single loaded the bases, and Brian Serven doubled to left field, scoring two runs. Snyder's single brought Diaz home with the tying run.
The score remained 3-3 until the 10th.
Hammer (4-1), who entered the game at the start of the ninth inning, got the win. Veras, who relieved at the start of the eighth inning, took the loss.
Legends' starter Travis Eckert worked seven innings and allowed seven hits and three runs.
Game two of the three-game series will be played Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m.
