Tourists Take Two Of Three From Gnats
The Asheville Tourists (12-13) started off on the right foot in May, taking two out of three from the Savannah Sand Gnats in a scheduled four-game series in Savannah. Asheville had a chance to reach .500 for the first time in 2009, but Tuesday night's series finale was postponed due to rain. That game will be made up as part of a doubleheader during Savannah's visit to McCormick Field May 28th to May 31st. Asheville will get another chance at reaching the .500 mark Wednesday night in Charleston for the first of a four-game series against the Riverdogs at 8:05. You can listen to all 140 Asheville Tourists games live on 100.7 WRES FM or streaming online at www.theashevilletourists.com.
(Savannah, GA) - The Tourists (11-12) opened up an eight game road trip on Saturday night with a 3-2 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats. Asheville scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning highlighted by a Thomas Field two-run single. Starting pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth (1-1) picked up his first win, tossing six innings with six strikeouts, allowing only one unearned run.
The Tourists threatened in the first inning when Savannah starting pitcher Jeurys Familia (2-2) walked the bases loaded. Jimmy Cesario popped up and Ryan Peisel struck out to end the threat. Asheville would then load the bases again in the fourth inning on two more walks and an error. Tyler Massey delivered an RBI groundout and Thomas Field followed with a two-run single to give Asheville a 3-0 lead.
Hollingsworth cruised through six innings, allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth. Hollingsworth struck out six and walked none to earn his first win of the season. Michael Marbry made his third appearance of the year and hurled two scoreless innings while facing the minimum. Adam Jorgenson picked up his third save of the campaign, striking out two and allowing one run.
Savannah made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth scoring on a single by Sean Ratliff and a double from Eric Campbell. Ratliff finished the night 4-for-4 with four doubles and a run driven in. Adam Jorgensen then struck out Juan Lagares to end the game and give Asheville the win to begin the road trip.
(Savannah, GA) - The Asheville Tourists were held scoreless on four hits Sunday in a 7-0 Savannah win. The Tourists (11-13) were shut down by Savannah's starting pitcher Jeff Kaplan, who tossed seven shutout innings and allowed just three hits. Savannah's Sean Ratliff followed up Saturday's 4-for-4 performance with four more hits including a homerun and three doubles.
Robison Fabian (1-1) took the loss for Asheville with seven innings worked. Fabian allowed 10 hits and 7 runs (5 earned) with a strikeout and 2 walks. Savannah struck with two runs in the first inning beginning with a walk and a Sean Ratliff double. Second baseman Josh Satin then singled the runners home to give Savannah a 2-0 lead.
Asheville was held without a hit until Jimmy Cesario singled with one out in the fifth. Kaplan hurled seven shutout innings for the Sand Gnats with just one walk and two strikeouts. Asheville did threaten to score in the seventh inning with consecutive singles from Jordan Pacheco and Kiel Rolling. With runners on second and third, Cesario struck out and David Christensen flew out to end the threat.
Kurt Yacko pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Asheville with two strikeouts in relief of the starter Fabian.
(Savannah, GA) - The Asheville Tourists scored twice in the eighth inning and the bullpen held on for a 5-3 win over Savannah Monday night. The Tourists (11-12) used a strong start from Parker Frazier and picked up RBI doubles form Jordan Pacheco and Delta Cleary to earn the victory. The Tourists will look to take the series Tuesday with Christian Friedrich on the mound.
Savannah scored twice in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Josh Satin drove in the first runs of the game with his fifth double of the season. Delta Cleary made a play on the ball in deep center field, but it glanced off his glove for a double. Frazier then cruised through the next several innings, setting down nine consecutive batters.
The Tourists took a 3-2 lead with three unearned runs in the third inning. Patrick Rose worked a one-out walk, Carlos Martinez struck out and Scott Robinson singled. Third baseman Jefry Marte booted a ground ball off the bat of Delta Cleary to score Rose for Asheville's first run. Jordan Pacheco then drove in Robinson and Cleary with a double, giving Asheville the 3-2 lead. Pacheco currently leads the South Atlantic League with 22 RBI this season.
Parker Frazier finished with six innings and left with the game tied at 3-3. Savannah drew even with an unearned run in the fifth inning on a throwing error from Scott Robinson. Savannah's Rafael Fernandez doubled with Juan Lagares on first, and Robinson made a wild throw back in, allowing Lagares to come around and score. Frazier finished with a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings, conceding three runs on four hits with two walks in the no-decision.
Alan DeRatt (1-0) earned his first win of the year with a scoreless seventh inning. Asheville took the lead in the top of the eighth inning on a two-run double from Delta Cleary. Carlos Martinez led off the inning with a walk and Robinson followed with a base hit. A passed ball advanced the runners and Delta Cleary delivered the two run knock to give Asheville a 5-3 lead.
The bullpen got scoreless innings from Michael Marbry and Kurt Yacko to seal the deal. Yacko earned his third save of the year, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.