Tourists Outlast RiverDogs in Slugfest
Published on April 29, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release
CHARLESTON, SC - Home runs by Keil Roling and David Christensen helped the Asheville Tourists outlast the Charleston RiverDogs for the 12-10 slugfest victory in South Atlantic League action Wednesday in front of 2,561 fans at Asheville's McCormick Field.
With the triumph, the Tourists win the first two games of the series and improve to 9-11 overall while the RiverDogs slip to 11-9.
Charleston snatched an early 4-0 advantage in the top of the second when Melky Mesa singled and then moved to second after Garrison Lassiter was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced into scoring position after a passed ball before Chase Weems lined a bases-clearing, two-run double to right. Walter Ibarra followed with a single to left while Weems proceeded to third and then Ibarra quickly raced to second on a throwing error by left fielder Joseph Massey. Ray Kruml socked a single up the middle that plated both Weems and Ibarra.
The Tourists cut their early deficit in half to 4-2 in the home half of the second frame when Massey reached on a fielder's choice and then sprinted home when Christensen doubled to right. Ryan Peisel lined a single to right that bumped Christensen to third as Beau Seabury lifted a sacrifice fly to right that drove in Christensen.
Asheville captured a 5-4 advantage in the bottom of the third when Thomas Field laced a leadoff single to center and then scooted to second after a passed ball. Field advanced to third on a fly out to right before he scored on Patrick Rose's groundout to second. A throwing error by third baseman Garrison Lassiter allowed James Cesario to reach ahead of Roling's smashed two-run homer gave the Tourists the lead.
The RiverDogs knotted the game 5-5 in the top of the fourth when Weems smacked his second double of the game and then slid home when Ibarra singled up the middle.
The Tourists responded to take an 8-5 lead in the home half of the fourth inning when Christensen singled to center and advanced to second when Peisel walked. Seabury dropped a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by catcher Chase Weems was promptly thrown away for an error that allowed Christensen to score while Peisel scampered to third. With runners on the corners, Field singled to right that plated Peisel while Seabury sprinted to third. Delta Cleary added a sacrifice fly to center that scored Seabury.
The scoring continued in the top of the fifth when Charleston's Melky Mesa blasted his fifth home run of the season over the center field wall that narrowed the RiverDogs gap to 8-6.
Asheville kept hammering RiverDogs pitching for a 9-6 advantage when Cesario singled to left before stealing second. With a runner in scoring position, Massey lined a single up the middle that drove in Cesario.
Charleston scored three runs in the top of the sixth that tied the game 9-9 when Weems drew a leadoff walk before Kruml singled that bumped Weems to second. After Taylor Grote walked to load the bases, David Adams smashed a bases-clearing, three-run double to left.
The RiverDogs seized a 10-9 lead in the top of the eighth when Kruml doubled to left and then circled home after Adams laced a double to left.
The Tourists reclaimed the lead with a 12-9 advantage in the bottom of the eighth after Christenson clouted his third homer of the season over the center field fence to lead off the inning to tie the game. Peisel added a single up the middle that lead to Seabury's sacrifice bunt that advanced pinch runner Scott Robinson to second. Field singled off of shortstop Walter Ibarra's glove that plated Robinson while Field was thrown out at second when he tried to take the extra base. Delta Cleary singled to right, stole second, and scored when Patrick Rose singled after Ibarra's throwing error from short.
Each team amassed 13 hits in the ballgame, Kruml lead the RiverDogs with four hits while Christensen and Field paced the Tourists with three hits apiece.
Asheville reliever Michael Marbry (2-0) collected the win when he shutdown the RiverDogs' bats for two hits, one earned run over the final two innings.
RiverDogs reliever Cory Arbiso (1-2) suffered the defeat when he was charged with three runs off of five hits over 1.1 innings pitched.
The RiverDogs and the Asheville Tourists battle in game three of their four-game set Thursday at 7:05p.m. Charleston manager Torre Tyson has announced that righty Andrew Brackman (0-3, 5.23 ERA) will take the ball while Asheville opposes with southpaw Christian Friedrich (1-1, 0.53 ERA).
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