Still Rolling; Tourists Win Eighth Straight

ASHEVILLE-- The Asheville Tourists added to their longest winning streak of the season with a 6-4 victory over the Greenville Drive on Sunday evening. In addition to the eight straight wins, the Tourists have celebrated a victory 11 times over their last 12 games.
Erick Julio, making his final start for the Tourists in 2017, earned his seventh victory with a quality outing. Julio limited a potent Drive offense to four runs, three earned, over six innings of work. Asheville's offense staked Julio with a nice lead early and the right-hander, along with three relievers, held it without a problem.

The Tourists plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Tyler Nevin and Bobby Wernes each collected RBI's. Vince Fernandez joined the party in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to right. After the Drive plated two runs in the top of the fourth, the Tourists bounced back with their biggest inning of the night.
The bottom of the fourth featured three runs on four hits along with a walk. Fernandez clubbed a two-run double down the left field line and Joel Diaz added an RBI single. Greenville did manage two runs in the top of the fifth; however, they never came any closer.
Fernandez led the way for Asheville with three hits and a walk. Ben Johnson reached base four times with two hits, two walks, and a stolen base. Diaz and Taylor Snyder both chipped in two hits to the offensive attack. Julian Fernández earned his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning while Austin Moore and Juan Pena also pitched a shutout inning out of the bullpen.
The Tourists wrap up their 2017 season on Monday afternoon with a 2:05pm first pitch against the Drive. Asheville has an opportunity to sweep the Drive and end the year on a nine-game win streak.