Tourists Come Close In Opener
April 14, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
(Asheville, NC) - The Tourists welcomed the Greensboro Grasshoppers to open McCormick Field for the 2009 season and came up just inches shy of a thrilling victory. Asheville starter Dan Houston struggled, but kept his team in the game, allowing four runs on five hits over three innings, while striking out two. Greensboro starter Jose Rosario was in top form, however, holding the Tourists to three runs on six hits over five innings of work. In the end, UNC - Asheville product Kevin Mattison, patrolling center field for the Grasshoppers, had to make a leaping catch up against the center field wall to rob Bo Bowman of a walkoff homerun.
The Grasshoppers wasted little time, plating two runs in their first turn at bat. Kevin Mattison led the game off with a walk and promptly stole second base. He came in to score on a double by third baseman Paul Gran, giving Greensboro the early lead. Gran would come around to score on a groundout by Ben Lasater, making the score 2-0 Grasshoppers.
Greensboro would increase their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third inning. Mattison got things going again, this time with a leadoff single. After a single by Gran, Mattison would come in to score on a groundout by Ben Lasater, making the score 3-0 Greensboro. Kyle Skipworth then plated Gran with a base hit of his own, pushing the lead to four.
The Tourists got one back in a wild bottom of the third inning. After Carlos Martinez struck out to begin the inning, Scott Robinson reached on a bunt single down the third base line. Maikol Gonzalez was hit by pitch, and Jordan Pacheco followed with a walk to load the bases. Jimmy Cesario hit a sharp ground ball toward shortstop which deflected off the foot of the baserunner Gonzalez. Gonzalez was ruled out on the play, and Cesario was awarded first base, so the bases remained loaded with two outs. Tyler Massey stepped in and hit a grounder up the middle that was fielded nicely by Greensboro shortstop Joel Staples. Staples elected to go to second on the play, but Cesario beat the ball to the bag, allowing Robinson to score and cut the lead to 4-1.
The score held there until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Scott Robinson led off with a double and came around to score his second run of the contest. Tyler Massey drove in his second Tourists run, plating Jimmy Cesario on a single to center field, drawing Asheville to within 4-3.
The Grasshoppers came right back against relief pitcher Isaiah Froneberger. The lefty did not have his best command, and some sloppy defense behind him didn't help the Tourists. Greensboro was able to push across three runs, while collecting just one walk and two hits, thanks to two costly errors by the Asheville defense. Throwing errors by David Christensen and Jimmy Cesario helped the Grasshoppers build a 7-3 lead.
Scott Robinson was able to get on base and score his third run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, cutting the lead to 7-4 Greensboro. It stayed that while until the bottom of the ninth inning. Scott Robinson stayed hot, roping a double down the right field line to lead things off. Robinson advanced to second on a wild pitch before Maikol Gonzalez struck out. Jordan Pacheco worked an 0-2 count to get a pitch he liked, then stroked a single into center field, scoring Robinson for his fourth run of the night. With Pacheco and Jimmy Cesario on base, Tyler Massey struck out for the second out of the inning, before Bo Bowman drove one all the way to the wall in center field for a loud final out of the game.
The Tourists will play the second and third of a four-game series in a doubleheader Wednesday, beginning at 5:35 pm. Tourists RHP Ethan Hollingsworth (0-0, 0.00) will face off against Greensboro RHP Johnny Dorn (0-0, 9.00) in game one. Game two will feature a matchup between Asheville RHP Jonnathan Aristil (0-1, 5.40) and Grasshoppers RHP Stuart Alexander (1-0, 3.00).
Tickets for all 2009 Tourists home games are on sale now. For more information about season tickets, mini-plans and all premium seating at McCormick Field, contact the Tourists front office at (828) 258-0428.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 14, 2009
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- Suns Drop Home Opener To Delmarva, 2-1 - Hagerstown Suns
- Ibarra's 10th Inning Single Lifts Charleston as RiverDogs Shred GreenJackets, 2-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Tourists Come Close In Opener - Asheville Tourists
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- Crawdads announce No-Hitter Ticket Special - Hickory Crawdads
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