Schmidt Masterful But Again Denied Win
June 21, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
ASHEVILLE - There is a story in Asheville brewing under the Sally League radar. Colten Schmidt is good. Colten Schmidt is really good. If the league had a Cy Young Award, Schmidt would be in the conversation and maybe even the front-runner. The left-handed starting pitcher for the Asheville Tourists lowered his league-leading ERA from 1.69 to 1.64 with seven sensational innings pitched on Friday night. Schmidt allowed, one run on four hits, and struck out a career-high ten.
Schmidt, the SAL leader in ERA, isn't that well known around the league. He was left off the All-Star team. I will repeat that. The League Leader in ERA was left off the All-Star team. No one is really talking about him (aside from me). The reason being, the Tourists lost tonight 6-3 in ten innings. This has happened to Schmidt before. His win-loss record is 2-3.
On May 25 at Rome Schmidt spun seven innings, struck out nine, and did not allow an earned run. He left with the Tourists in front. Rome came back and won in the final two innings. On May 20 at Lexington Schmidt spun six shutout innings, left with a lead, but was forced into a no-decision after the Legends tied the game late.
Tonight, Schmidt could not have been much better. Asheville's offense picked him up with three runs in the sixth inning on a Grant Lavigne two-run single and a Kyle Datres RBI single. Niko Decolati had a pair of hits early as well. Schmidt departed after seven with the Tourists in front 3-1.
The Columbia Fireflies rallied for two runs off Asheville's bullpen in the eighth and then scored three times in the top of the tenth to seal the win. However, you can not put this loss just on the bullpen.
Asheville was held scoreless in nine of ten innings. They put the leadoff man aboard seven times not including the tenth inning where each team starts with a runner at second base. They had runners on in every inning. Runs were there for the taking. Putting the Fireflies away was right at their fingertips. Neither happened.
The Tourists were thrown out on the bases four times and hit into three double-plays; including one with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to walk off. That being said, they still had the Fireflies on the ropes; but Columbia hung close, stole it late, and kept the story on Schmidt bubbling under the surface - for now.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 21, 2019
- Schmidt Masterful But Again Denied Win - Asheville Tourists
- Total Team Win as Fireflies Fight for First Win in Second Half - Columbia Fireflies
- Upshaw's Five RBI Propel Suns to 14-6 Victory - Hagerstown Suns
- Dominant Pitching Leads Kannapolis to Friday Night Victory - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Crawdads Down RiverDogs as Benches Clear in Game Two in Hickory - Charleston RiverDogs
- Home Runs Lead 'Dads Past RiverDogs - Hickory Crawdads
- Wilson Guides 'Birds to 50th Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Lexington Unable to Respond as Drive Takes Game Two - Lexington Legends
- Claws Fall 1-0 in 10 After Santos Throws Five Perfect Innings - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Kannapolis Pitching Continues to Shine with 6-1 Victory over Jackets - Augusta GreenJackets
- Sweet Deals, Honeyman Delivers in 1-0 Victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Fireflies Game Notes: June 21 at Asheville - Columbia Fireflies
- Shorebirds Introduce Beauchamp as Head Groundskeeper - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Game Notes (June 21) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Take the COMET to the Ballpark on June 28 for BOGO Tickets - Columbia Fireflies
- Braves Suites Available - Rome Emperors
- Vientos Homers, Fireflies Fall Short in Asheville Slugfest - Columbia Fireflies
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