Santos Stymies Fireflies; Nevin Stays Hot

COLUMBIA-- Antonio Santos pitched a season-high eight innings on Wednesday night and led the Asheville Tourists to a 4-1 victory over the Columbia Fireflies. Santos surrendered only four hits and struck out ten; one shy of his career high.
Tyler Nevin continued to deliver at the plate. The reigning South Atlantic League Player of the week finished 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. Nevin's only plate appearance where he did not reach base was a contested batter's interference call that occurred when runners attempted to advance on a ball in the dirt.

Nevin put the Tourists on top with an RBI single in the top of the first. Manny Melendez, who tripled prior to Nevin's at bat, came in to score. Later in the inning, Vince Fernandez added a sacrifice fly to put Asheville in front 2-0.
Melendez made it 3-0 with a solo Home Run in the third. Columbia notched their only run of the game in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Oliver Pascual. Asheville plated an insurance run in the top of the eighth when Bobby Wernes singled home Nevin; who had led off the inning with a triple.
The Tourists have won seven of their last eight games and will have an opportunity to sweep the Fireflies on Thursday night. Asheville is 34-34 on the road so a series sweep would give the Tourists a winning road record on the year.
With the Charleston RiverDogs' victory over the Hickory Crawdads, Asheville has officially been eliminated from post-season contention. The Tourists have five games remaining in 2017.