Borden II and Palma Homer in Two-Run Victory

ASHEVILLE- The winning streak has hit six games. The Asheville Tourists defeated the Greensboro Grasshoppers 9-7, the same score as yesterday’s win, in front of the McCormick Field faithful on Saturday night. The Tourists will go for a series sweep on Sunday.

Asheville scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the second on a Greensboro fielding error. The Grasshoppers plated two runs in the top of the third but their lead did not last long. Tim Borden II crushed a two-out, three-run Home Run over the left field wall to give the Tourists a 4-2 lead in the third.

The home team added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Miguel Palma launched an opposite field two-run blast and Borden II drove in another run with a double down the third base line. The two teams exchanged runs in the fifth and sixth. Asheville’s came on a Ryan Clifford Sacrifice Fly.

Greensboro cut the Tourists advantage to one run with a four-spot in the top of the seventh. Borden II helped extend the lead when he scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh. That cushion was enough to secure the win; the Grasshoppers were held without a hit in the final two frames.

Brayan De Paula earned the win despite surrendering four runs in four innings. De Paula kept the lead throughout and struck out the side in the ninth. Ryan Gusto and Max Roberts combined to pitch the first five innings.

Zach Dezenzo recorded another three-hit game. Dezenzo finished 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. He has a Tourists season-high nine game hitting streak and has reached base safely in his last 19 games.