Slow Start Leads to Ninth Shutout Loss
July 29, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1) - Asheville Tourists News Release
CHARLESTON- On Sunday afternoon there were very few bright spots for the Asheville Tourists in a 7-0 loss to the West Virginia Power. One of those bright spots was the Tourists bullpen. Austin Moore, Hunter Williams, and Derrik Watson combined to limit the Power to one run over the game's final 5.1 innings.
Offensively the Tourists had no answer for West Virginia's Max Kranick. The Power right-hander retired the first 15 batters he faced and needed only 29 pitches to work through the first four innings. Taylor Snyder broke up Kranick's no-hit bid with a lead-off double in the sixth but was later picked off.
Asheville received a two-out single from Todd Czinege in the eighth to account for their only other baserunner in the game. The Tourists sent one over the minimum to the plate through nine innings.
West Virginia's offense did not have the same problems. The Power led 1-0 after one pitch. Oneil Cruz led off the bottom of the first inning with a Home Run. Cruz later added an RBI single and Robbie Glendinning added a two-run Home Run; his first of the year.
Lucas Gilbreath suffered through his toughest start since May 12. The Tourists left-hander allowed six runs through 2.2 innings. Aside from today, Gilbreath has been one of the Tourists best pitcher's over the last two months.
The Power finished the game with 14 hits giving them 37 over the three-game series. Eight of their 37 hits were two-out RBI hits with runners in scoring position. Asheville did not have one over the three-game set.
Asheville now heads to Greenville for a critical four-game series over the next three days. A sweep or series victory by the Tourists puts them right back in the hunt for the final playoff spot up for grabs in the South Atlantic League's Southern division.
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South Atlantic League Stories from July 29, 2018
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