Poor defense costs Tourists
Published on June 27, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
ASHEVILLE - The Tourists were once again victimized by the error bug, as three Asheville errors helped Greenville take game one of this series against the Tourists by a 9-3 score.
With Greenville holding a 4-3 lead in the seventh, the Drive pushed two runs across the plate in the seventh inning on the last of Yamaico Navarro's three hits - an RBI single to put a once close game out of reach. More insurance came in the eighth and ninth innings on Kristopher Negron's RBI double and Jered Stanley's RBI double to plate single runs in each inning respectively.
The teams traded runs in the first - Greenville got their run on a Connor Graham (5-4) wild pitch while the Tourists scored their first on Darin Holcomb's RBI single. Holcomb was thrown out at second on the play while trying to stretch the hit into a double.
Asheville took a lead in the second on Kevin Clark's tenth home run of the year - his second in two nights - but the lead was short-lived. Negron tagged Graham for a two-run bomb in the top of the third and with two outs, Stanley added another on an RBI single.
Asheville would pull to within a run in the bottom half of the inning on Kevin Clark's sacrifice fly, but with the bases loaded, Jeffrey Cunningham struck out to end the frame. It would be the biggest threat the Tourists would muster at the plate all night long.
Graham never found a rhythm in his five innings of work, giving up four runs on five hits and walking four with five strikeouts. Jose Alvarez (6-8) picked up his first win in three tries against the Tourists this season, throwing five innings and yielding three runs on eight hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts to his name. Ryne Lawson and Javier Garcia combined to hold Asheville to just two hits over the last four innings.
The Drive defense was everything that Asheville's was not, turning three double plays and Helder Velazquez trying to steal second base in the sixth inning. Everth Cabrera did pick up his 48th and 49th stolen bases of the year to extend his South Atlantic League leading total.
On Saturday in the series and homestand finale, Cory Riordan (6-6, 3.07) will get the start for the Tourists with the Drive sending Felix Doubront (7-5, 3.48) to the mound. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a Colorado Rockies National League Champions Pennant. Also, the American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive in the lower parking lot of McCormick Field on the Bloodmobile from 3:00-7:30. First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. to allow for the second television broadcast of the year for WMYA-TV, Asheville's My40. The game can be heard on the Tourists flagship station WRES-FM, 100.7.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 27, 2008
- Legends lose in opener - Lexington Legends
- Catfish Drown RiverDogs, 12-3 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Captains Sweep DH from BlueClaws - Lake County Captains
- Poor defense costs Tourists - Asheville Tourists
- Power can't generate enough offense in win - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws swept in twin bill at Lake County - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Gnats, Braves split doubleheader - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Kearns leads Suns to victory - Hagerstown Suns
- Rally Falls Short, Birds Fall 7-6 in Hagerstown - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Smith, Stanton Homer in 8-2 Loss - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- 'Dads and 'Jackets rained out - Hickory Crawdads
- Jackets Rained Out in Hickory - Augusta GreenJackets
- Promotional Schedule for June 28th Homestand - Columbus Catfish
- RiverDogs Add Pitchers Nick Asselin and Dan Kapala - Charleston RiverDogs
- Mike Hampton to Pitch in Rome Monday - Rome Emperors
- BlueClaws welcome Delmarva for two-game series - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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