Fireworks Highlight Forgetful Night
July 4, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
(Asheville, NC) - The Tourists returned home for the first of a four-game series with Charleston Saturday, hosting a season-high 4,270 fans, but losing to the Riversdogs, 14-4. With starting pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth filling in at High Class-A Modesto, Robinson Fabian was removed from his role as reliever and slotted into Saturday's starting position. The Riverdogs struck early and often Saturday, led by a 4-for-6 night for Corban Joseph, Charleston outhit the Tourists 17-to-8 in the victory.
Fabian got into trouble right away when Jose Pirela led off the game with a double, and the Riverdogs lineup went to work. Charleston batted around in the top of the first, plating 6 runs on 6 hits to take a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the first. The Riverdogs pushed across another run in the second, taking a 7-0 lead.
Fabian would leave after just two innings, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits without striking out a batter. Alan DeRatt took over in the top of the third, retiring the side without incident. He gave up a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI triple for Joseph, giving Charleston an 8-0 advantage.
The Tourists got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, finally getting to Riverdogs starter Manny Banuelos. With two outs, Jordan Pacheco banged a double off the wall in center field, and David Christensen followed with a base hit up the middle to score Pacheco. Jimmy Cesario reached on an error by third baseman Garrison Lassiter, and Kiel Roling plated Christensen and Cesario with a double down the left field line, making it 8-3 Riverdogs.
Charleston did not let Asheville stick around, putting the game out of reach with five more runs in the top of the fifth. DeRatt closed out the top of the fifth having allowed 6 runs on 6 hits through his 3.0 innings of work, with the Riverdogs ahead, 13-3.
The Riverdogs added a run in the top of the seventh on another RBI double for Joseph, giving him four driven in on the night. Asheville would get a run back in the bottom of the inning when Ryan Peisel led things off with a solo homerun to straightaway center field. The solo shot brought the Tourists to within 14-4, but that's how things ended. Thankfully, the record crowd at McCormick Field was treated to a Fireworks Extravaganza following the conclusion of the one-sided affair. There will be another fireworks show following Sunday night's game two.
The Tourists (5-4) and Riverdogs (6-4) will meet again Sunday night at 7:05 for game two of the four-game series. Asheville will send RHP Dan Houston (3-6, 4.15) to the mound Sunday to take on Charleston RHP Brett Marshall (3-5, 5.45). Tickets for Sunday's game and all Tourists home games are available by contacting the Tourists box office at (828) 258-0428. You can also listen to all 140 Asheville Tourists games live on 100.7 WRES FM or streaming online at www.theashevilletourists.com.
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South Atlantic League Stories from July 4, 2009
- Legends stop Braves in rain-shortened game, 9-4 - Lexington Legends
- Hoppers fall to Lake County - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Crawdads outshine Suns with 13-5 win - Hickory Crawdads
- Carter pitches Kannapolis to Independence Day win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Fireworks Highlight Forgetful Night - Asheville Tourists
- RiverDogs Wallop Tourists, 14-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hot Rods postponed on 4th of July - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Fireworks Aplenty in 9-2 Augusta Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Doubled-Up by Sand Gnats, 4-2 - Greenville Drive
- BlueClaws and Power Postponned - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Power vs. BlueClaws game postponed - Charleston Dirty Birds
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