Rodriguez Trumps Roling, Tourists
Published on May 11, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
(Asheville, NC) - Rome first baseman Gerry Rodriguez lashed a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Rome Braves took the first of a four-game series in Asheville, 9-7 Monday night. Tourists' own first baseman Kiel Roling turned in an equally impressive individual performance, going 4-for-4 with two homeruns, a double, and five RBI of his own.
Asheville starter Parker Frazier (0-3) struggled through four innings of work, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking three batters, and striking out one. Frazier did well to limit the damage and keep the game close, but the bullpen couldn't do the same.
The Tourists jumped out to an early lead with runs in each of their first two turns at bat. Kiel Roling started his big night at the plate with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, and Ryan Peisel drove in David Christensen with an RBI groundout in the second.
The Braves would answer back with four runs in the top of the third. After Frazier retired the first two batters of the inning, Luis Sumoza singled into right field. Gerry Rodriguez followed with his first RBI of the day on a triple to center field. Stephen Shults drove in Rodriguez with a base hit up the middle and moved to second base on a steal. Samuel Sime drew a walk to put runners on first and second for Jesus Sucre, who drove them both home with a double to left field, making the score 4-2 Tourists.
Asheville responded immediately, tying the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the third on a two-run homerun by Kiel Roling. It was Roling's first homerun of the night and third of the year, each blast leaving McCormick Field over the right-center field wall.
Rome regained the lead, 5-4 in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by center fielder Calvin Culver. As Culver rounded second base, he fell and sprawled on the infield dirt between second and third base. Culver lay motionless for a minute, got tagged for the second out of the inning, and was ultimately replaced by Chris Shehan. Culver was wheeled off the field the following inning, reportedly suffering from a separated shoulder.
Alan DeRatt came on to relieve the starter Frazier and worked a perfect top of the fifth inning. He came out in the sixth and allowed a leadoff single before a sacrifice bunt put a runner on second with one away. DeRatt then walked back-to-back batters to load the bases for the dangerous Rodriguez, who made the Tourists pay with a grand slam homerun to straightaway right field. The blast gave Rome a commanding 9-4 advantage. It was Rodriguez's seventh long ball of the season, good for second in the South Atlantic League.
The Tourists got a couple back on Kiel Roling's second two-run homerun of the game in the bottom of the eighth, making it 9-6 Rome. Another towering opposite-field blast, Roling's second homerun gave him five RBI for the game, the most for any Tourist this year. Asheville would threaten again in the bottom of the ninth against reliever Craig Kimbrel. A leadoff single by Ryan Peisel and a throwing error by Kimbrel put a runner on second with no outs for Tyler Massey, who drew a walk. Thomas Field grounded out, advancing the runners to second and third. Scott Robinson grounded out to first base, plating Peisel to make it 9-7 Rome, before Delta Cleary struck out to end the threat and the game.
The Tourists (13-17) will take on the Braves (16-15) in game two of this four-game series tomorrow at 11:05 am for Education Day at McCormick Field. LHP Christian Friedrich (3-1, 0.93) will face off against Rome RHP Jacob Thompson (1-2, 3.82). Tickets for Tuesday'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.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 11, 2009
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- Lexington Nips Charleston, 3-2, in 14 Innings - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Fall to GreenJackets, 9-5, in Series Opener - Greenville Drive
- Crawdads Drop Thriller - Hickory Crawdads
- Rodriguez Trumps Roling, Tourists - Asheville Tourists
- Hot Rods Take Opener, 5-2 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Norris Claims League RBI Lead in 7-2 Suns Win - Hagerstown Suns
- Suns Sink Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Valle Gets Game Winner as BlueClaws Sneak Past Crawdass - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Intimidators shutout again by Lake County - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Baisley and Ibarra Promoted to Tampa - Charleston RiverDogs
- Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame Seeks Nominations - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive and Spinx Expand Partnership - Greenville Drive
- Moore Opens Doubleheader Split With Walkoff - Hagerstown Suns
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