Big Seventh Inning Catapults Asheville into the Win Column

ABERDEEN- The Asheville Tourists left no doubt on Saturday night with a 9-1 victory over the Aberdeen IronBirds for Asheville’s first win on the road trip. After dropping four straight one-run games, three of which in extra innings, the Tourists delivered a balanced performance that included a six-run seventh inning.

Asheville’s offense was held without a hit over the first four frames; however, starting pitcher Alfredi Jimenez kept the IronBirds scoreless during that stretch. In the top of the fifth, Deury Carrasco and Luis Guerrero both singled and the Tourists took a 1-0 lead.

Aberdeen managed to tie the score with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Luke Berryhill answered right back for Asheville with an RBI double in the top of the sixth to score Zach Daniels and put the Tourists in front 2-1. Kevin Holcomb escaped a jam in the bottom of the sixth inning with some impressive pitching to keep the lead intact. Asheville used that momentum for a big seventh inning.

Luis Santana, who appeared in his first game since mid-June, doubled to lead off the inning. Carrasco and Guerrero each walked to load the bases with no outs. Wilyer Abreu worked a lengthy at-bat before singling home Santana. Daniels then worked a bases loaded walk. An IronBirds throwing error allowed two more runs to score and Santana capped the big inning with a two-out RBI single.

Guerrero added a solo Home Run, his second of the series, in the bottom of the eighth. Ernesto Jaquez pitched the final three innings and picked up the save. Jaquez struck out six during his scoreless appearance.

The Tourists did strike out 17 times in the game; however, when they put the ball in play, plenty of damage was done. Asheville will attempt to make it two wins in a row with the series finale against Aberdeen set for Sunday afternoon.