Extra Innings Needed in Tourists 2-1 Win over Sand Gnats
Published on June 2, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
Savannah, GA-- In a much anticipated matchup between the Asheville Tourists and the Savannah Sand Gnats, a full nine innings was not enough to produce a victor. The Asheville Tourists rallied with two outs in the top of the tenth to break a tie game and take a 2-1 lead.
Asheville held the Sand Gnats without a run in the bottom of the tenth to snatch game one in Savannah.
For the first five innings both teams struggled to put runners aboard as Alex Balog and Chris Flexen dealt for their respective teams. Finally, the Tourists broke through with a run in the sixth. Max White singled into right to lead off the inning. After going to second on Emerson Jimenez's sacrifice bunt, White promptly stole third. David Dahl then connected with a single into center that put the visitors in front 1-0.
Savannah tied the game a 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Victor Cruzado doubled off Balog to lead off the frame. After going to third on a wild pitch, Cruzado came home on Stefan Sabol's single to third. The next batter, Champ Stuart singled to put runners at first and second, but Balog escaped the inning without allowing any further damage.
The game remained tied even though the Sand Gnats threatened to walk off in the bottom of the ninth. Troy Neiman recorded two outs but he left with runners at second and third. Fortunately, Trent Daniel induced a pop out to end the threat and that set the stage for the Tourists' tenth inning rally.
With two outs and nobody on base, White laced a two-strike pitch from Robert Coles into left- centerfield for a base hit. Jimenez followed with a line drive over the head of Savannah's second baseman L.J. Mazzilli. The ball rolled into the right-centerfield gap and White raced all the way around to score. Jimenez ended up at third with a triple.
In the bottom of the tenth, Daniel faced four batters. He gave up two singles and retired the other two. With runners at first and second Asheville put Andrew Brown into the game to pitch to Cruzado. On a 3-2 pitch, Brown struck out the Sand Gnats right fielder to clinch the win.
The Tourists have now won five straight and square off against the Sand Gnats once again on Tuesday evening at 7:05pm.
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