Surkamp Stuns Tourists
May 15, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
(Asheville, NC) - The Tourists welcomed the Augusta Greenjackets to McCormick Field Friday night for the first of a four-game series, barely avoiding a shutout in a 5-1 loss. Asheville starter Robinson Fabian struggled in his first two innings of work, allowing four runs, but settled down to go seven innings without allowing another. Fabian was outdone by his counterpart, Augusta starter Eric Surkamp, who went seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk.
The Greenjackets got out to a hot start with back-to-back singles to lead off the game. After a sacrifice bunt, Josh Mazzola drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single to give Augusta the 1-0 lead. With runners on second and third and two away, Wendell Fairley delivered a two-run base hit into left field to score both runners and extend the Greenjackets lead to 3-0.
Asheville threatened in the bottom of the first inning as Scott Robinson led things off with a base hit. Surkamp then struck out Delta Cleary and Jordan Pacheco, but walked Jimmy Cesario and Kiel Roling behind them to load the bases with two away. Surkamp buckled down and got David Christensen swinging to end the threat. That would be the last time Asheville would advance a runner past first base until the bottom of the seventh.
Augusta picked up another run in their next turn at bat, with shortstop Ehire Adrianza leading off the top of the second with a single. Mike Loberg followed with a base hit of his own to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt by Charlie Culberson advanced the runners and Ben Woodbury drove in the fourth run of the game with an RBI groundout to the pitcher, making it 4-0 Greenjackets.
Fabian would settle down after that, sending Augusta down in order in the third and sixth innings, and allowing just two more hits. Alan DeRatt relieved the starter in the top of the eighth inning and allowed a leadoff homerun to Juan Perez to give Augusta a 5-0 lead.
Eric Surkamp was stellar following his shaky first inning. The left-hander worked seven shutout frames, highlighted by retiring a stretch of 15 consecutive Tourists. Surkamp was relieved by Chris Wilson out of the bullpen. Wilson allowed a walk in the bottom of the eighth before retiring the side, and came out to work the bottom of the ninth. Jimmy Cesario greeted Wilson in the ninth with a solo homerun over the scoreboard in right field, making the score 5-1 Augusta to avoid the shutout. Wilson retired the next three batters in order, however, securing the victory for the Greenjackets.
The Tourists (14-20) will face the Greenjackets (13-22) Saturday night for the second in a four-game series at McCormick Field. Asheville RHP Parker Frazier (0-3, 6.53) will take the mound in a matchup against Augusta LHP Aaron King (1-2, 5.85). 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.
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