Mikulik ejected in 11-1 loss at Charleston

The Tourists endured their second blowout loss of the season's second half, falling 11-1 tonight to the Charleston RiverDogs.

As is often his wont, manager Joe Mikulik supplied the most entertaining aspect of the defeat. Mik turned up the heat on home plate umpire Aaron Roberts, following a questionable call in a nightmarish sixth inning that yielded four runs for the RiverDogs off reliever Jonathan Vargas. With the bases loaded and three runs already across for a 6-1 Charleston lead, Jimmy Paredes hit a short ground ball to third baseman Helder Velazquez. Velazquez's throw was slightly off the mark, but catcher Jose Gonzalez appeared to hold his foot on the plate ahead of Emerson Landoni's slide. Roberts called Landoni safe to provide Mikulik the impetus to set off some post-Fourth fireworks. While earning his second ejection of the season, Mik got his money's worth, throwing his cap on the ground, kicking plenty of dirt on Roberts, and doffing his cap to the cheering crowd as he exited the field.

Starter Juan Gonzalez had permitted three runs in the RiverDogs' fifth, capped by a two-run J.R. Murphy homer. The Tourists defense committed four errors this evening, including the hard-luck error charged to Velazquez on the aforementioned controversial play at home.

With Charleston starter Mike Solbach going only four innings, Andrew Shive earned his first victory of the year by lasting three frames. Juan Gonzalez went down to his fourth loss. The evening featured three hits from Kyle Higashioka, and two hits plus a sacrifice fly from Murphy and Landoni.

Asheville's finest asset in tonight's laugher was the left-field defense of Tyler Massey: a running catch into the Asheville bullpen in the second inning, and a diving catch in the fifth.