Double Header Delight for Tourists
Published on August 28, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
If you can call a double header that began in 90 degree heat comfortable, this was a comfortable day at the office for the Tourists, jumping ahead early in both games, and never being behind.
Game One
The Tourists grabbed the game by the throat right from the very start, with both Fowler and Young Jr starting the game with a single and a steal. One out later Cole Garner doubled for the 37th time this year to bring both of them home, and he in turn crossed home plate as Phillip Cuadrado drove an RBI stand-up double into left field to give the Tourists a 3-0 lead.
And when Cuadrado returned to the batters box once more in the third inning with two outs, Garner once again stood facing him on second base, after having planted a double over the head of starting pitcher Richard Brooks. And Cuadrado once more brought him home, this time driving the ball the opposite way into right field for an RBI single, and a 4-0 lead.
Back came Kannapolis with a run of their own from two hits in their half of the third, to make the score 4-1, but the Tourists were in no mood to allow a comeback. Nelson Robledo smacked a one out solo home run over left field in the top of the fourth to make the score 5-1, and three more hits from Nunez,Young Jr, and Nelson contrived to extend the lead to 7-1.
Kannapolis refused to lie down quietly, and matched the offensive output of their guests in the fourth in a three-hit inning that included Francisco Hernandez's lead off home run. It was the closest the home team would get though, the Tourists allowing only two Kannapolis runners on base in the final three innings.
Chaz Roe takes the win, pitching five of the seven innings, allowing four earned runs off of eight hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts for an ERA of 4.27. Jon George and Andrew Johnston took care of an inning apiece, George allowing one hit and a strikeout for an ERA of 2.87, Johnston sending the final three batters down in order for an ERA of 2.91.
Game Two
The second game was even more one sided, with the Tourists scoring eight runs in the first four innings, commanding the game from there.
Dexter Fowler got the ball rolling, leading off game two with an infield single, moved to second on a error during an attempted pickoff, stole third, and came home courtesy of a Chris Nelson sacrifice fly to gibe the Tourists a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning Chris Cook doubled the lead by hammering a fastball over the left center field wall for a solo home run to make it 2-0. In the same inning Fowler smacked a grass cutting double into left field, and was once more brought home by Chris Nelson, this time an RBI single to left doing the job to make the score 3-0 after two innings.
Two more runs in the third inning off of two hits (the pick of which being a two-out Kyle Blumenthal RBI triple) gave the Tourists a 5-0 lead, and then three hits, a walk and an error combined to put the Tourists 8-0 in the lead halfway through the fourth. The icing on the cake came from back to back home runs from Garner and Cuadrado, both huge two-out blasts over the left field wall taking the Tourists into double figures.
A Three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth by Brandon Allen saved the home team from being shut out, and the Intimidators did load the bases in the seventh and final inning against James Burok, but an unassisted double play by Chris Cook (picking a line drive out of the air and tagging the runner almost at the same time) brought the game to a close, with the Tourists completely in control.
Zach Simons takes the win, pitching five full innings, allowing just that three run homer from Brandon Allen. In total he offered up a walk and four hits, striking out two for an ERA of 6.29.
In an offensive hitting fest for the Tourists, both Philip Cuadrado and Cole Garner batted over .300 for both games, including a HR apiece in the second game.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 28, 2006
- Asheville Sweeps Doubleheader - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Four-Run Fifth Helps Catfish to Victory - Columbus Catfish
- Double Header Delight for Tourists - Asheville Tourists
- Suns score early, hold off Lake County - Hagerstown Suns
- Suns use big first to tip Captains - Lake County Captains
- Drive Come Up Short Versus GreenJackets, 3-1 - Greenville Drive
- Gnats open series with 3-1 win over 'Dogs - Savannah Sand Gnats
- My Name is Earl bobblehead giveaway highlights Suns last homestand - Hagerstown Suns
- Arias Named SAL Pitcher of the Week - Charleston RiverDogs
- August 31 Can't Come Soon Enough - Delmarva Shorebirds
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