SAL1 Asheville Tourists

Tourists capitalize on Power errors in 6-3 win

Published on April 17, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release


ASHEVILLE, NC - The Asheville Tourists proved tonight that it pays to be lucky. The T's took full advantage of four West Virginia Power errors en route to a 6-3 win in front of 3,636 at McCormick Field - the season's largest crowd to date.

The Tourists controlled the game early and held a 3-0 lead through five innings thanks to a Jeff Cunningham RBI single that plated two runs when West Virginia right fielder Caleb Gindl booted the Cunningham hit. That allowed Darin Holcomb to score behind Brian Rike to give the T's an early lead. They added to that in the fourth when Michael Mitchell's RBI single drove in Lars Davis, who was 3-4 on the night.

The Power edged back in the sixth when Jonathan Lucroy smacked an RBI double to deep centerfield to score Zelous Wheeler. The double was the only solid hit allowed by starter Bruce Billings all night, who gave up an infield single in the third as well.

Billings, in his best start of the season, threw six innings and gave up just the two hits and one run, while striking out six and walking only two. He was in line for the win, but the Power picked up two unearned runs in the seventh off Joey Williamson. Helder Velasquez's fielding error with one out kept the inning alive and the second run came home after a single and two hit batsmen. The Power then tied the game on a fielder's choice play with the bases loaded to even things at three. However, in the bottom half of the inning the Tourists scraped together three runs off two Power errors, two walks and a Davis single to take a 6-3 lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Tourists plated the go-ahead run on two outs, when a Cunningham pop-up fell in the "Bermuda Triangle" area in shallow left field, scoring Holcomb all the way from first. Davis's single and the ensuing error scored the remaining runs. Cunningham, Davis and Mitchell all drove in runs for the Tourists. Joey Williamson (2-0) picked up the win in relief while Cory Frerichs (0-3) was the hard luck loser, surrendering all three of the unearned runs in the seventh.

The Tourists will send Sheng-An Kuo (1-1, 10.29) to the hill for the first time at McCormick Field in the series finale on Friday while the Power will counter with Rob Bryson (0-1, 1.23). Game time is at 7:05 and the game will be heard on WRES 100.7 FM. It's Ladies Night, presented by Asheville Regional Airport, and all ladies can enjoy four dollar General Admission tickets and dollar wines all night long.

The Asheville Tourists are the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Tickets are available by contacting the front office at (828)-258-0428 or on the website, www.theashevilletourists.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 17, 2008


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