Balog Baffles GreenJackets in 2-1 Tourists Win

Augusta, GA-- Friday nights Asheville Tourists game was a pitcher's duel from the start and Asheville's Alex Balog outpitched Augusta's Carlos Diaz in a 2-1 Tourists win at Lake Olmstead Stadium. With the win, the Tourists knotted up the series at one game apiece.

Balog surrendered a second inning run when Augusta's Ty Ross singled in Tyler Horan in the bottom of the second, but after that the Tourists righty took control. Trailing 1-0 for most of the game, it took the Tourists a while to figure out Diaz.

In the top of the sixth, Max White singled to lead off the inning and he took second on an errant throw by Christian Arroyo. After David Dahl sacrificed White over to third, Pat Valaika came to the plate and delivered. The Tourists' struggles this season with runners in scoring and two outs have been well documented, but this time Valaika drove in the tying run with a single to right.

With the game tied 1-1, Michael Benjamin legged out a triple with one down in the seventh. Ashley Graeter, playing in just his second game of the season, hit a ground ball to Arroyo and Benjamin raced home to beat the throw.

Leading 2-1, Fred Ocasio decided to bring Balog back out for the bottom of the seventh. After surrendering a one-out single, Balog induced an inning ending double play off the bat of Shawn Payne.

Trent Daniel worked a scoreless eighth for Asheville and Dylan Stamey notched his fifth save of the season with a one, two, three ninth inning. Dating back to Thursday, the Tourists pitching staff has only allowed one run in their last 14.1 innings pitched.

Asheville and Augusta continue their four-game series on Saturday with game three set for 7:00pm.