Tourists Show Resolve In 8-5 Win

ASHEVILLE, NC-- A lead can disappear in the blink of an eye at McCormick Field. On Monday night, that's exactly what happened to the Asheville Tourists. Out in front of the Rome Braves 5-1 heading to the seventh inning, everything seemed to be working for the home team. It took two swings for Rome to tie the game. However, Asheville responded with three runs in the bottom half and held on for an 8-5 victory.

Omar Carrizales clubbed a lead-off Home Run in the bottom of the first. The Tourists added two more in the fourth. Max White doubled home Shane Hoelscher immediately followed by Wes Rogers singling in White; one of three RBI base hits on the night for Rogers.

Rome plated one in the sixth when Tanner Krietemeier singled in Ozzy Albies. Asheville's Sam Howard responded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat. Howard finished with six innings under his belt, seven strikeouts, and only one run allowed.

Asheville extended their lead to 5-1 with RBI base hits from Rogers and Drew Weeks in the home half of the sixth. Rome's answer came swift. Omar Obregon connected with a two-run triple off Asheville's Alec Crawford. On the next pitch, Jordan Edgerton smacked a two-run Homer to left knotting the game at five.

The Tourists loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh and Josh Fuentes delivered a sacrifice fly to left. Forrest Wall later scored on a wild pitch and Rogers provided the insurance with an RBI single to center.

Jerad McCrummen and Josh Michalec worked a scoreless eighth and ninth respectively. Rogers and Carrizales each finished with three hits with Fuentes provided a pair of doubles. Game two of the three game series is Wednesday night at 7:05pm.