Grasshoppers Sweep Tourists, Take Series
August 28, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
(Asheville, NC) - The Tourists and Grasshoppers played through a 90-minute rain delay and extra innings in game two of their doubleheader Friday night, with Greensboro coming out with the sweep. Beau Seabury drove in three runs for the Tourists in game one, but Asheville fell short, 4-3. Thomas Field matched Seabury's effort with three RBI of his own in game two, but the Tourists lost a back-and-forth affair, 7-6, in nine innings.
Kurt Yacko made his first professional start in game one of the twin bill, and surpassed the loftiest of expectations. After allowing a couple of seeing-eye singles and a walk in the first inning, Yacko stranded the bases loaded and went on to deliver 4.0 shutout innings with eight strikeouts. Meanwhile, Seabury drove in runs in the second and fourth innings to spot his team a 2-0 lead.
The Grasshoppers rallied against Stephen Dodson out of the bullpen, putting together three runs in the fifth inning. As Asheville came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth, the rain began to fall, and play was delayed for an hour and a half.
When play resumed, Greensboro added to their lead with a run in the sixth inning before Beau Seabury delivered his first homerun of the year, a solo shot to left field in the seventh. It was not enough for the Tourists, as they came up shy, 4-3.
Game two was a roller coaster ride, as Greensboro took an early lead in the second inning with three runs against Asheville starter Carlos Luna.
The Tourists offense responded with two runs in their half of the second to tie the game 2-2, on RBI hits for Jimmy Cesario and Thomas Field. Asheville added to their lead in the fourth inning, as Field brought in two more runs with a double, plating Mike Zuanich and Cesario to make it 4-2 Tourists.
The Grasshoppers stormed back in the top of the fifth against Michael Marbry and Isaiah Froneberger, rallying for three runs on three hits to regain the lead, 5-4.
Asheville wasted little time in getting back in the game, loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. Kiel Roling struck out for the first out of the inning, but Zuanich delivered with a base hit to right field, scoring two to put the Tourists back on top, 6-5.
Froneberger came back out to work the sixth inning, and allowing a leadoff double to Daniel Pertusati. Justin Bass followed with a base hit up the middle, and Greensboro send Pertusati around third to try to score. Delta Cleary fielded the single and fired a strike to home plate, where Jordan Pacheco was waiting to apply the tag and nail the baserunner. Pertusati was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Erik Hill after arguing the close call. Pinch hitter Torre Langley followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners with one out before Froneberger struck out Isaac Galloway for the second out. Asheville then called on Adam Jorgenson to go for the four-out save, and he struck out Paul Gran to end the threat.
Jorgenson came back out in the seventh and retired the first two batters he faced before a throwing error by Ryan Peisel extended the game. Greensboro capitalized, with an RBI single by Thomas Hickman to tie the game at 6-6 before Jorgenson got out of the inning.
Neither team threatened to score until the top of the ninth, when Gran reached to lead things off on an error by Thomas Field. After a hit batsman and a sacrifice bunt, Ben Lasater lined one to right field that was caught by a diving Tyler Massey, but it was enough to score Gran from third on the sac fly to give Greensboro the 7-6 lead.
The Tourists (37-22) will head to Bowling Green to take on the Hot Rods (28-29) for three games beginning Saturday at 8:05 pm. RHP Juan Nicasio (8-2, 2.49) will make the start for Asheville in game one Saturday against Bowling Green LHP Matt Moore (8-5, 3.07). You can listen to all 140 Tourists games live on the radio on 100.7 WRES FM or streaming online at www.theashevilletourists.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 28, 2009
- Grasshoppers Sweep Tourists, Take Series - Asheville Tourists
- Lavarnway Powers Drive Past Intimidators, 7-5, in Series Finale - Greenville Drive
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- Rain Washes Out Series Opener - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Charleston-Augusta Postponed Due to Rain - Charleston RiverDogs
- Friday Night's Suns-Shorebirds Game Postponed - Hagerstown Suns
- RiverDogs, Braves to Play Twinbill on September 1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Grasshoppers on Verge of Yet Another Milestone - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Hot Rods Release 2010 Midwest League Schedule - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Braves First Rounder Minor To Start Against Gnats On Saturday - Rome Emperors
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