Shocking Loss the Latest in Rough Stretch
Published on June 15, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
GREENSBORO, NC - The Asheville Tourists blew two leads to the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Tuesday night; one in the bottom of the ninth and another in the bottom of the 14th. In what was the longest game of the season for the Tourists, they were left stunned as the Grasshoppers walked off to a 6-5 win.
The Tourists clubbed back-to-back triples in the top of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead over the Grasshoppers. Asheville tacked on one more in the fourth and Greensboro scored one in the fifth. Leading 3-2 late, Carlos Herrera blasted a solo Home Run in the top of the ninth.
Starting pitcher Jack Winekoop, who cruised through eight innings, trotted back onto the mound for the bottom of the ninth. Wynkoop retired the leadoff batter but then gave up a single to Angel Reyes. The Tourists then went to the bullpen and the game was tied 4-4 within minutes. Javier Palacious gave up a double and a single to the next two batters.
Both teams struggled offensively during the next four innings but in the top of the 14th the Tourists caught a break. Greensboro ran out of pitchers. Giovanny Alfonso, an infielder, came in the game to pitch. He rotated between a 72mph fastball and a 58mph curveball. The Tourists managed a run off Alfonso to take a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the 14th, Devin Burke entered and promptly retired the first two batters. After firing two quick strikes to Aaron Blanton, the Grasshoppers third-baseman who had not hit the ball out of the infield in his first five at-bats, crushed a fastball over the left field wall to tie the game. Burke walked the next batter, Greensboro's number nine hitter Casey Soltis; then allowed a double up the left field line. Soltis raced around the bases from first to score the winning run.
Herrera ended up a double shy of the cycle and Yonathan Daza added three hits. The loss dropped Asheville to a 1-5 record on their current road trip and 4-11 in their last 15 games.
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