Drive Force Extras But Tourists Hang On
Published on July 3, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
Greenville, SC--The Asheville Tourists let a five-run ninth inning lead slip away on Wednesday night, but the Tourists managed to escape Fluor Field with an 8-7 victory in ten innings over the Greenville Drive. It was one of the most bizarre endings to a game all season.
Konner Wade and the Tourists dominated the Drive for eight and a half innings, but Greenville refused to go quietly. Wade was nearly flawless through seven. The Tourists starting pitcher lasted seven innings and his only blemish was an unearned run in the fourth inning.
Jose Briceno gave the Tourists a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the second. Michael Benjamin did the same thing in the fifth and Correlle Prime delivered with an RBI double later in the inning. Asheville added one more in the sixth on a Benjamin sacrifice fly.
Carlos Estevez pitched a scoreless eighth for Asheville, but when he came in for the ninth and the Tourists ahead 6-1, things took a major turn. After Estevez induced a fly out to begin the frame, he allowed a single followed up by a two-run homer to Wendell Rijo. Manuel Margot made it back-to-back Home Runs and just like that it was a 6-4 game. Estevez then surrendered a single and a double before departing.
Matt Carasiti entered and walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. He then threw a wild pitch that brought in another run. Carasiti struck out Forrestt Allday for the second out of the inning, but Tzu-Wei Lin laced a single to center. David Dahl picked up the ball and fired it to the plate. The tying run had already crossed the plate, but Dahl's throw nailed Zach Kapstein to save the game.
Kapstein collided with Briceno at home plate, but the Tourists catcher held on. Briceno took exception to the hit and approached Kapstein. The benches spilled onto the field as tempers flared on both sides. Once the mayhem was cleared up Briceno, Kapstein, and Greenville's manager Darren Fenster were all ejected and the two teams were headed for extra-innings tied up 6-6.
Asheville plated two runs in the top of the tenth. Prime drove in Ryan McMahon with a triple and scored on Jordan Patterson's sacrifice fly. The bottom of the tenth had drama as well.
Greenville plated one and put the tying run at second base with no outs. Rijo was at the plate and he hit a grounder to Prime. Asheville's first baseman threw across the diamond to cut the lead runner down at third. Margot then roped a one hopper to McMahon. The third-baseman somehow gloved the ball and began one of the best double-plays the Tourists have turned all season. The twin-killing ended the game and gave the Tourists an 8-7 victory.
The Tourists will look to sweep the Drive on Thursday night and record their eighth straight road win if they are able to do so. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 3, 2014
- Crawdads Sweep Power with 6-1 Victory - Hickory Crawdads
- Delmarva Bounces Back, 6-5 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Suns Drop Series to Lakewood for First Time this Year - Hagerstown Suns
- Gnats End Homestand with a Bang Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Delmarva Ends Intimidators' Winning Streak - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Tourists Complete Sweep with 3-1 Win over Drive - Greenville Drive
- Viza Sharp; Claws Take Series With 4-1 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Dogs Swept to Close Winless Road Trip - Charleston RiverDogs
- Greensboro Breaks Tie in 9th for 3-2 Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Back to Back Homers Hurt Braves - Rome Emperors
- Sweep: Tourists Take Finale from Drive 3-1 - Asheville Tourists
- Power Swept by Hickory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles) - July 3, 2014 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Game Notes at Kannapolis - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Ninth Inning Rally Sends Rome Home Victorious - Rome Emperors
- Crawdads Club 5 Home Runs in 5-1 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Force Extras But Tourists Hang On - Asheville Tourists
- Gnats Win Sixth Straight - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Drive Drop Wild Affair in Front of Record Attendance - Greenville Drive
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