Diaz Homers in Tourists Debut; Win Streak Ends at Three

LAKEWOOD- Less than three weeks ago Yainer Diaz was catching for the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Low-A affiliate for the Cleveland Indians. Following a trade and a promotion to High-A, Diaz became the 62nd player make his Asheville Tourists debut in 2021 and he did so in style.

The newest member of the Tourists hit a two-run Home Run in his first game, but it was not enough as the Jersey Shore BlueClaws ended Asheville’s season-best three game road win streak Wednesday night by a final score of 6-4.

Jersey Shore plated a run in the bottom of the first inning with a one-out triple by D.J. Stewart to centerfield. Diaz’s longball came in the top of the fifth inning and it gave Asheville a brief 2-1 lead. The BlueClaws answered with a two-run Home Run off Asheville’s starting pitcher, Misael Tamarez, in the bottom of the fifth.

The two teams exchanged solo Home Runs in the sixth inning as well. JC Correa hit his third bomb of the season to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the frame. Ernesto Jaquez surrendered a solo shot to Jersey Shore in the bottom half, but the Tourists again came back to tie the game. Luke Berryhill led off the eighth inning with a double and later scored on a C.J. Stubbs sacrifice fly.

The roller coaster ballgame swung in the BlueClaws favor once more following another Stewart RBI triple and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth. The Tourists went down in order in the top of the ninth.

Asheville is currently 3-5 on their road trip despite outhitting their opponents in all eight games. Diaz also worked a walk and stole a base while Berryhill and Correa both finished with two hits in the contest.