Slow Start Turns into 8-5 Loss

ASHEVILLE- The Tourists had an opportunity to grab their first series win of the season on Wednesday night but fell behind big to the Rome Braves early. Asheville's bats were quiet for the first seven innings and the Tourists ultimately fell 8-5.
Rome took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Braves batted around and recorded five hits and a walk in the frame. Derian Cruz hit a solo Home Run in the second to give the visitors a 5-0 lead. Rome added one more in the fifth and scored twice in the top of the eighth.

Trailing 8-0, Asheville's offense came up with a big inning in the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Vilade worked a bases-loaded walk and Sean Bouchard brought a run in with a groundout. Chad Spanberger then provided the Tourists only RBI base hit of the game; a two-run single to right.
In the bottom of the ninth Ramon Marcelino reached on a three-base fielding error by Drew Waters. Marcelino later scored on a wild pitch but that was as close as Asheville would come.
Rome's starting pitcher, Bruce Zimmerman, recorded five shutout innings with seven strikeouts. Zimmerman allowed only two hits and did not walk a batter. The Tourists allowed 15 hits to the Braves and Asheville's offense struck out 12 times.
Next up is a four-game series in Charleston, West Virginia to take on the Power. Game one is set for Thursday night at 7:05pm.