Sloppy Affair In Asheville
June 5, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
(Asheville, NC) - The Tourists welcomed the Bowling Green Hot Rods for the first of three games at McCormick Field, and the teams combined for nine errors in a 5-4 Bowling Green victory. Dan Houston worked 7.0 strong innings for Asheville, overcoming several defensive lapses behind him to get the job done. Houston got a hand from six double plays turned by the Asheville defense, the most they have turned this season. The Tourists made a valiant effort at a comeback before going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth.
The Hot Rods picked up an early lead in the top of the first when Anthony Scelfo led off the game with a single and Tim Beckham followed with a double in the gap in right center. Jake Jefferies drove in a run on a fielder's choice and another run came in to score on a double play by Henry Wrigley.
The Tourists got a run back in the bottom of the inning, aided by three hit batsmen by Bowling Green starter Nick Barnese. Barnese hit the leadoff batter Cleary, who then stole second base and advanced to third on a single by Thomas Field. Field was picked off first before Scott Robinson took one off the body and Jimmy Cesario drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, bringing the Tourists to within 2-1. Jordan Pacheco got hit by pitch as well before Kiel Roling struck out looking to end the inning, his first of three strikeouts on the night.
Bowling Green picked up a third run in the top of the fourth, when Isaias Velasquez lead things off with a walk. He moved to second on a groundout and stole third base, coming around to score when the pitch on which he stole got past Pacheco to the backstop, for a 3-1 lead.
Asheville got back in it in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs with the help of three consecutive errors by the Bowling Green defense. Cesario led off with a bunt single down the third base line, then Pacheco reached on an error by shortstop Tim Beckham. Kiel Roling hit a ground ball to third base that ate up Robi Estrada for another error, loading the bases. David Christensen then stepped in and hit a ground ball to second. It was bobbled briefly by Beckham, but he flipped to second base and the ball was dropped by Velasquez. Everyone was safe on the third consecutive error, with a run coming in to make it 3-2. Ryan Peisel came up and lined a ball into left field to drive in a run and tie it at 3-3, but Roling was thrown out at third base to rob Peisel of a single.
Bowling Green pulled ahead with runs in the seventh and eighth frames. Beckham drove in a run in the top of the seventh when he beat out a double play, and Henry Wrigley gave them some insurance with a solo homerun in the eighth, making it 5-3 Bowling Green.
The Tourists tried to come back when David Christensen hit a solo shot of his own, his ninth of the year, in the bottom of the eighth, drawing Asheville to within 5-4. But the Tourists went down in order in the bottom of the ninth against closer Josh Satow to seal the deal.
The Tourists (20-34) face the Hot Rods (26-28) again Saturday night for game two of the series, featuring a matchup between Asheville RHP Ethan Hollingsworth (3-3, 2.85) and Bowling Green LHP Matt Moore (2-2, 3.89). Tickets for Saturday'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 June 5, 2009
- Five Run First Enough for Hoppers - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Pitching Dominates in Braves Sweep - Rome Emperors
- Pitching Dominates in Braves Sweep - Rome Emperors
- Braves Sweep Jackets, Win Series - Augusta GreenJackets
- Hot Rods Take Opener in Asheville - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Drive's Road Trip Begins with 2-1 Loss in 10 Innings - Greenville Drive
- Legends Win in Tenth - Lexington Legends
- Crawdads Fall Short in Greensboro, 5-3 - Hickory Crawdads
- 'Dogs Take Finale, 5-3 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- RiverDogs Smack Sand Gnats, 5-3 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Sloppy Affair In Asheville - Asheville Tourists
- Intimidators Rained Out Again - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power and Intimidators Rained Out-Again - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns and Caps Postponed Again - Hagerstown Suns
- Tonight's Shorebirds Game Postponed - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tickets On Sale Saturday for "Baseball and Beers" at McCormick Field - Asheville Tourists
- Tonight's Game Postponed - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Friday Night Fireworks Postponed; Games Still On - Hagerstown Suns
- Bass Reels In South Atlantic League Player Of The Week Honors - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Suns To Showcase Pitching Pink Jerseys Saturday At The Greene Turtle - Hagerstown Suns
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
