Asheville Losses Big Due to Aberdeen's 12-Run Inning

ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists are in the midst of a season-high three game home losing streak after suffering a 19-4 loss to the Aberdeen IronBirds on Saturday. The first two losses both came by one run. Tonight, the visitors plated 12 runs in the third inning and cruised from there.

The very first batter of the game, Kyle Stowers, took Asheville’s starting pitcher Jaime Melendez deep. The Tourists actually took the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Cody Orr and an RBI single by Freudis Nova.

That lead was short lived. Aberdeen went crazy in the top of the third. The IronBirds hit three Home Runs in the frame; two by Toby Welk. They also hit three doubles, worked three walks, and sent a total of 15 batters to the plate. The Tourists used three different pitchers in the inning.

Once the top of the third was over, the game pretty much was as well. Aberdeen scored two more in the fourth before the Tourists received a solo Home Run from C.J. Stubbs. In the sixth, Stubbs and Wilyer Abreu hit back-to-back doubles to make it 15-4. The IronBirds scored four unearned runs over the final two innings.

Stubbs and Mark Moclair were Asheville’s two bright spots. In addition to the Home Run, Stubbs hit a single and a double for a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate. Moclair pitched 3.1 innings out of the bullpen and did not let Aberdeen score, which was no easy task. The IronBirds pounded out a total of 21 hits and walked six times.

Asheville will attempt to salvage a series split with Sunday’s finale scheduled for 1:05pm.