Tourists Escape With 4-3 Win In Extras
Published on April 25, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
In the Tourists first extra-inning contest of the season, Asheville managed to claw their way to a 4-3 win over Lakewood Wednesday night. The Tourists never trailed and bounced back after blowing a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth to win it in ten.
Trevor Story singled with two outs in the top of the tenth and took second on an errant pickoff throw. Story then scored when Jared Simon grounded to short and the throw from Gustavo Gonzalez tipped off Harold Martinez's glove at first. In the bottom of the tenth, Tourists reliever Nelson Gonzalez struck out Brian Pointer with two outs and the tying run at third to give Asheville the victory.
The Tourists started the scoring in the top of the first. Sam Mende tripled with two outs and he scored on a wild pitch from Mike Nesseth (1-1, 6.60). The triple was Asheville's only extra-base hit of the game.
In the bottom of the second, Lakewood answered with a two-out RBI single from Gonzalez. The BlueClaws number nine hitter singled on the first pitch he saw from Dan Winkler (2-1, 7.20) to score Martinez from third. Winkler went six strong innings, allowed only two runs, and struck out seven.
Asheville plated the game's next two runs. Delta Cleary Jr. singled home Tyler Massey from second in the fifth and Massey drove home Story with a single in the sixth. Lakewood responded with a run in their half of the sixth. Aaron Altherr drove in Pointer on a groundout to third.
The score remained 3-2 Asheville until the bottom of the ninth. Nelson Gonzalez was called upon for the Tourists to try and give Asheville its first save of the season. Gonzalez hit the first two batters of the inning on back-to-back pitches. Then he tried to pick off the runner at second but his attempt bounced off the glove of Mende and into centerfield.
With runners at second and third and no outs, the BlueClaws were in great shape. Gonzalez however, retired the next two batters without allowing any damage; but a passed ball allowed the tying run to score. Gonzalez did not earn a save, but he was credited with the win as he worked a scoreless 10th to preserve the 4-3 win.
Each team managed only five hits apiece and they combined to commit four errors; all of which occurred after the eighth inning.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 25, 2012
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