Asheville Enjoys Walk-Off Win in Home Opener
April 14, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
ASHEVILLE, NC - It was a raucous Thirsty Thursday crowd for the Asheville Tourists home opener against the Rome Braves. The fans waited a while but were able to show their passion when the home team rallied for a 5-4 walk-off win in the tenth inning. The win capped a furious late inning comeback by the Tourists and snapped their five-game losing skid.
Rome jumped out to a quick start by plating three runs in the top of the first; the big blow, a Justin Ellison two-run Home Run to right-centerfield. Tourists starting pitcher Jack Wynkoop settled down after the rocky first inning. Wynkoop proceeded to toss five consecutive scoreless innings and recorded another quality start. Unfortunately, Asheville was unable to provide any early run support thanks to Braves starter Max Fried. The Rome lefty pitched six shutout innings.
The visitors tacked on a run in the seventh but Asheville's bullpen locked-in after that. Drasen Johnson and Juan Pena combined to throw the final four innings and allowed just the one run.
The Tourists began their comeback in the eighth. Mylz Jones parked a Matt Custred pitch over the left field wall for a solo Home Run. After two walks, Yonathan Daza doubled home both runners to make it a 4-3 game. In the bottom of the ninth, Jonathan Piron led off with a single. After a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, Piron was standing at third base. Jones then popped a pitch up on the infield but a miscommunication took place between Braves' pitcher Taylor Lewis and third-baseman Austin Riley. Both could have caught the ball, but they let it drop between them right next to the pitcher's mound. Piron raced home to tie the game and force extra-innings.
In the tenth, Max George came to bat with Sam Hilliard at third base. George lifted a fly-ball down the left-field line. Riley went out from third and Ellison came in from left, but the ball landed just fair and served as the game winner. The Thirsty Thursday faithful erupted as George was mobbed by his Tourists teammates in shallow centerfield.
The same two teams are back at it on Friday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 14, 2016
- GreenJackets Drop Opener 3-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Hagerstown Spoil Shorebirds' Home Opener - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Burt Extends On-Base Streak to 67 - Lexington Legends
- West Virginia Shuts out Legends 5-0 - Lexington Legends
- Asheville Enjoys Walk-Off Win in Home Opener - Asheville Tourists
- Helton Lifts Power in Home Opener - Charleston Dirty Birds
- 'Claws Comeback Effort Falls Short in 7-4 Thursday Loss to Greensboro - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- RiverDogs Swat GreenJackets, 3-1, Win Fifth Straight - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Drop Series Opener to Fireflies, 4-1 - Greenville Drive
- Tate Ks Kannapolis for 6-1 'Dads Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Lassiter collects 3 hits in loss at Hickory - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- "Legends in the South" Experiences Online Bidding Begins Friday at Noon - Charleston RiverDogs
- Delmarva Shorebirds Game Notes for April 14, 2016 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Shorebirds Announce Roster Transaction for Thursday, April 14 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Righty Hurler Vargas Joins RiverDogs Staff - Charleston RiverDogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
