Holcomb's Homers Not Enough As Tourists Fall 5-3
Published on April 23, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
GREENVILLE, SC - Darin Holcomb hit two home runs for the Tourists today, but it was Greenville's home run heroics that proved most effective as the Drive defeated Asheville 5-3 at Fluor Field this afternoon.
Luis Exposito's three-run blast in the fourth inning and Anthony Rizzo's RBI single an inning later gave the Drive a 5-1 lead that they didn't relinquish. Exposito, the nine-hitter in the Greenville lineup today, hit his blast in the same fashion that Rizzo hit his RBI single - with two outs.
Exposito's blast was one of the few blemishes on Tourists starter Bruce Billings (1-1) all day. Billings tossed 4.2 innings giving up only four earned runs on four hits, walking three and striking out ten - a season high for Billings.
Asheville got on the board first in the opening frame thanks to a Kevin Clark sacrifice fly. The Drive answered in the bottom of the inning when Oscar Tejeda singled to score Yamaico Navarro. The inning had been kept alive by a Helder Velasquez throwing error with two outs.
Darin Holcomb added two solo home runs to cut the lead in half, one in the sixth and another in the ninth, but unfortunately the Tourists could not provide the baserunners. The Tourists did, however, out hit the Drive, led by Michael Mitchell's 3-4 effort.
Felix Doubront (4-0) picked up the win for the Drive, throwing five innings of one-run ball and allowing only four hits without a walk and striking out seven. Felix Ventura pitched the ninth, allowing only the second Holcomb home run, to earn his second save of the year.
The two teams will face off in the second game of the series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. The Tourists will hand the ball to Sheng-An Kuo (1-2, 9.00) while the Drive will counter with Terumasa Matsuo. The Tourists return home May 3rd.
The Asheville Tourists are the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Tickets are available by contacting the front office at (828)-258-0428 or on the website, www.theashevilletourists.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 23, 2008
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- Captains Fall to Shorebirds 6-3 - Lake County Captains
- RiverDogs Place Romine, Heredia on DL - Charleston RiverDogs
- Naylor Earns First Victory with Solid Start - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Holcomb's Homers Not Enough As Tourists Fall 5-3 - Asheville Tourists
- Columbus Places Hall on DL - Columbus Catfish
- Drive Send Tourists Packing, 5-3 - Greenville Drive
- Suns Drop Finale, Series To Blueclaws - Hagerstown Suns
- Curry Extends Hit Streak in Hoppers 3-1 Loss - Greensboro Grasshoppers
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- Great Giveaways, Famous Faces, And Your Dog At The Park - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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