Tourists Defeat Drive 5-4 in Series Opener
June 30, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Greenville, SC - The Asheville Tourists took the lead in the middle innings of Thursday's game at Fluor Field and never looked back, taking the series opener against the Greenville Drive by a 5-4 score.
A three-run third against Jose Almonte (2-2) put the Tourists (5-3, 39-38) on top. Two singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases with nobody out, and a Brendan Rodgers groundout scored a run and cut the Drive lead to 2-1. Later in the inning, Yonathan Daza grounded a single through the middle to score a pair.
Mylz Jones tacked on another run for the Tourists in the fourth with a one-out solo homer to left-center.
The Drive (3-4, 40-36) scored twice in the bottom of the second to get out in front. Tate Matheny singled with one out and came in two batters later when Tyler Spoon smacked an RBI double off the wall in right-center. Mitchell Gunsolus followed with a double of his own off the Green Monster to score Spoon.
Asheville plated their final run of the evening in the sixth when Chris Keck doubled and came in on a single by Jones, his third hit of the game.
Jake Cosart took over for the Drive in the seventh and mowed down the Tourists with three perfect innings, and he struck out the final six hitters he faced.
Matheny and Spoon combined again to bring home a run for the Drive in the bottom of the sixth. Matheny led off the inning with a ground-rule double to right, moved to third on a flyout and came in on Spoon's RBI groundout.
The Drive cut the Asheville lead to 5-4 when Josh Ockimey drove a Logan Sawyer offering over the wall in right for a solo homer, his 11th of the year, but Tourists relievers Javier Palacios and Salvador Justo kept the score there over the final five outs.
Alec Kenilvort (2-1) got the win with two and one third innings in relief of starter Devin Burke.
Matheny collected two hits and scored two runs on Thursday, while Spoon drove home two runs.
The series continues on Friday night at Fluor Field at 7:05 PM. The Drive will send right-hander Anderson Espinoza (4-6, 3.90) to the mound, while the Tourists will call on right-hander Drasen Johnson (2-0, 3.88) in a spot start.
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