Tourists Build Early Lead, Hang on Late for 5-3 Win
Published on April 11, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
ASHEVILLE, NC-- Three games into the 2015 season, the Asheville Tourists have yet to experience what it feels like to be behind on the scoreboard. For the third straight contest, the Tourists led from start to finish. Asheville built a healthy lead on Rome and took care of business late to notch a 5-3 victory and open up the possibility of a series sweep.
In the top of the first inning, Omar Carrizales walked and immediately went to second on a balk by Braves pitcher Ricardo Sanchez. After Emerson Jimenez sacrificed Carrizales to third, another Sanchez balk put the Tourists up 1-0. Asheville tacked on two more in the third. Jimenez tripled home Carrizales and promptly scored on Wes Rogers' sharp ground ball to third. Luis Jean delivered with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to give the Tourists a 4-0 advantage.
Ryan Castellani started for Asheville and retired the first nine batters he faced. The Tourists righty ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth as Rome plated a pair of runs on RBI base hits by Jordan Edgerton and Codey McElroy.
Robbie Perkins, who finished 2-for-4, connected with an RBI single in the sixth to plate Kevin Padlo extending Asheville's lead to 5-2. The Braves managed just one run the rest of the way which came on a seventh inning infield single by Keith Curcio.
Logan Sawyer relieved Castellani at the start of the fifth inning and earned the win by tossing four innings of one-run ball. Eight of the 12 outs Sawyer induced were groundouts.
Jerad McCrummen entered in the bottom of the ninth with the Tourists ahead by two. The former Texas Tech Red Raider allowed a lead-off bunt single, but buckled down to retire the next three Braves hitters. The save was McCrummen's first of the season and the third game in a row a Tourists pitcher has been awarded a save.
Sanchez suffered the loss for Rome by allowing four runs in four innings of work. The left-hander celebrated his 18th birthday while on the mound, but Asheville made sure to spoil the fun.
The Tourists are the only team in the South Atlantic League to start the season 3-0. The Tourists and the Braves wrap up this four-game set on Sunday with the first pitch set for 2:00pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 11, 2015
- Drive Take Down GreenJackets, 6-4 - Greenville Drive
- 'Birds Allow Just One Hit in 3-1 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tourists Top Braves - Rome Emperors
- 'Dads Rally in 9th for 2-1 Walk-Off Win - Hickory Crawdads
- RiverDogs Blank Legends, 2-0 - Lexington Legends
- Tourists Build Early Lead, Hang on Late for 5-3 Win - Asheville Tourists
- Pop the Cork and Have Some Kamplain: Dogs Win 2-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Rodriguez, Viza Lead Claws to 6-3 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Robbins, Fish go deep but 'Claws come Back - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Sabol, Gnats Power Past West Virginia - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Suffers First Loss of 2015 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- RiverDogs' 10th Annual Golf Tournament Set for April 28 - Charleston RiverDogs
- WV Power Game Notes - April 11, 2015 vs. Savannah - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Pitching Falters in 'Dads 14-4 Defeat - Hickory Crawdads
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