Walks Lead to Walk off for Columbia
May 15, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
COLUMBIA, SC-- The Asheville Tourists entered Sunday afternoon's game against the Columbia Fireflies with the lowest number of walks issued in the South Atlantic League. Those numbers did not mean much once the game started. Asheville issued 12 walks to Columbia and eventually fell 5-4 in ten innings.
Three of the Fireflies five runs were scored on bases loaded free passes and the winning run scored on an RBI double by JC Rodriguez in the bottom of the tenth. The Tourists held a 3-1 lead after Carlos Herrera hit a solo Home Run in the top of the seventh.
In the eighth, Yonathan Daza tripled to lead off the inning but was left stranded at third base. The Fireflies used that momentum to plate two runs in the bottom of the eighth and tie the game. Asheville answered in the top of the ninth when Brian Mundell singled in Herrera to jump back in front 4-3.
After Columbia rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, Asheville put runners at second and third with no outs in the top of the tenth. Once again, the Tourists let a golden opportunity slip away after consecutive strikeouts followed by a pop out ended the threat. Vinny Siena then worked a one-out walk in the bottom of the tenth and scored on Rodriguez's double to right-centerfield.
Trey Killian did not factor in the decision after tossing five innings and allowing only one run. The Tourists used a season-high six pitchers and were forced to use 11 position players after Mundell and Brendan Rodgers were both ejected. Asheville's manager Warren Schaeffer was also given an early exit after arguing a check-swing call in the ninth.
Asheville did win the series over Columbia three games to one and now heads to Augusta for a three-game set against the GreenJackets. Monday night's game will begin at 7:05pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 15, 2016
- Matt Page Wins Game Final Game of Kannapolis Series in Front of over 2,300 - Hagerstown Suns
- Walks Lead to Walk off for Columbia - Asheville Tourists
- Fireflies Walk off for First Time this Season - Columbia Fireflies
- RiverDogs Drop Heartbreaker, 8-7, to Lexington as Power Surge Continues - Charleston RiverDogs
- Legends Score 5 in Ninth, Win 8-7 - Lexington Legends
- GreenJackets Blow Lead, Fall by One - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Come Back to Stun GreenJackets, 11-10 - Greenville Drive
- Laurino and Turbin Send Shorebirds Fans Home in Walk-Off Style - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators Outhit Suns, But Fall in Wallk-Off - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- BlueClaws Complete Sweep; Top Power 2-1 on Sunday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Pair of Homers Lift Lakewood over Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Delmarva Shorebirds Game Notes for Sunday, May 15 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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