Near No-Hitter Nets Tourists a Win over Legends
Published on May 1, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
ASHEVILLE, NC-- Magic was in the air at McCormick Field on Friday night, and it came in the form of Asheville's starting pitcher Carlos Polanco. The right-hander, combined with two relievers, came one out shy of completing the 14th no-hitter in Tourists history and first since Bruce Billings' in 2008. Asheville beat the Lexington Legends 4-1.
Polanco took the mound in the top of the first inning and hit Carlos Garcia in the leg to begin the game. The Legends lead-off man trotted down to first, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly. Following the at bat to Garcia, Polanco retired the next 21 Legends hitters that stepped to the plate; ten by way of the strikeout.
Gavin Glanz replaced Polanco in the eighth inning and retired the side in order. Heading into the ninth, Asheville went to their closer Josh Michalec who recorded outs on the first two hitters he faced. With the Tourists one out away from history, it was Garcia back in the box for the visitors.
On the first pitch from Michalec, Garcia attempted to lay down a bunt to break up the no-hitter; however the bunt rolled foul. This sent the fans into an outrage as boos rained down on the Legends second-baseman. Three pitches later, Garcia turned on a Michalec offering and sent it off the right-centerfield wall for a double. The no-hit bid and a shot at 27 consecutive outs came up one batter short. Ironically the next batter, Corey Toups, singled into left but Garcia was thrown out at home attempting to score on the play which ended the game.
Asheville plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Omar Carrizales tripled to lead off the inning and Forrest Wall followed with an RBI triple to practically the same spot. Wall later scored on a Drew Weeks RBI groundout. Luis Jean added a sacrifice fly in the third and Yonathan Daza scored Asheville final run in the fourth. Kevin Padlo finished 2-for-3 and was the only player in the game to record multiple base hits.
The same two teams square off again at McCormick Field on Saturday evening with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 1, 2015
- Suns Top Drive, 3-2 - Greenville Drive
- Augusta wins 5-4 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Late Rally Too Little for 'Dads in Loss - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Buzz Past Shorebirds, 5-4 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Claws Clip Gnats 2-1 Friday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Greensboro Takes Early Lead, Hangs on to Top Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns Hang on for 3-2 Win over Drive in Series Opener - Hagerstown Suns
- RiverDogs Pinch Crawdads 3-2 in Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Lowry Takes Hard-Luck Loss against Rome - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Near No-Hitter Nets Tourists a Win over Legends - Asheville Tourists
- Hockenberry Locks Down 2-1 Win in Savannah on Friday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- No-Hit Bid Ends in Ninth as Tourists Win Series Opener - Lexington Legends
- McFarland Activated from DL; Haddad Joins RiverDogs - Charleston RiverDogs
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Downtown Crawdads Bash Announced - Hickory Crawdads
- Bierfeldt's Heroics Lift 'Birds in 9th, 7-6 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Martin Mashes 'Dads to Extra Inning Win - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Win in Walk-off Fashion Thursday Night - Augusta GreenJackets
- Braves Top Legends 5-2 - Lexington Legends
- R'Dogs Silence Crowd, Salvage Series Finale 5-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Tourists Battle to the End; Fall 5-4 to RiverDogs - Asheville Tourists
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