Asheville starter shuts down Hoppers offense

Matt Gorski's double accounts for Greensboro's only extra-base hit in 4-2 loss

Hoppers utility infielder Andres Alvarez has batted .412 in August. (Jak Kerley/Greensboro Grasshoppers)

By Jeff Mills

August 27, 2021

ASHEVILLE ― Right-hander Misael Tamarez struck out 10 in seven strong innings, leading the host Asheville Tourists to a 4-2 victory over the Greensboro Grasshoppers at McCormick Field on Thursday night. Tamarez (1-0, 2.87 ERA) was dominant in his third start for the Tourists, allowing one unearned run in a

ASHEVILLE ― Right-hander Misael Tamarez struck out 10 in seven strong innings, leading the host Asheville Tourists to a 4-2 victory over the Greensboro Grasshoppers at McCormick Field on Thursday night.

Tamarez (1-0, 2.87 ERA) was dominant in his third start for the Tourists, allowing one unearned run in a season-high seven innings. He walked none, struck out 10 and faced just three batters over the minimum.

Hoppers left fielder Matt Gorski went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and his 16th stolen base of the season. Gorski has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games, batting .300 (18-for-60) with 13 runs scored.

Center fielder Jonah Davis hit an RBI single, and Yoyner Fajardo went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Greensboro starter Domingo Gonzalez (1-2, 7.20 ERA) took the lost, allowing four earned runs in five innings of work. He allowed nine hits and struck out five. Relivers Bear Bellomy and Michell Miliano combined for three scoreless innings and six strikeouts to close out the game.

The Hoppers (61-38) are in second place in the High-A East's South Division, eight games behind Bowling Green (69-30).

Greensboro remains a half-game behind North Division leader Hudson Valley (61-37) in the race for the No. 2 record in the 12-team High-A East. The Renegades lost at Winston-Salem on Thursday.

The teams with the top two records, regardless of division, qualify for the 12-team league's championship series in September. Greensboro plays 12 of its last 18 games against Hudson Valley.

Notes

Lolo Sanchez went 0-for-4 Thursday. Even so, he leads the league with 49 walks and 28 stolen bases. In his last 15 games, Sanchez has batted .404 (23-for-57) with 15 runs scored.
Utility infielder Andres Alvarez went 1-for-3 in the leadoff spot. Alvarez, a part-time player, has batted .412 in August, going 14-for-34 with 11 runs and nine RBIs in 11 games.
Third baseman Jared Triolo got the night off. Triolo leads the High-A East with 101 hits, ranks third with 67 RBIs and fifth with a .294 batting average.

In his career at the News & Record, journalist Jeff Mills won 10 national and 12 state writing awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors, the Society for Features Journalism, and the N.C. Press Association.