Daniels Drives in Four as Tourists Top Crawdads 9-6

ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists took care of business in front of a packed home crowd on Friday night with a 9-6 victory over the Hickory Crawdads. Aaron Brown made his first start of the season at home and the right-hander churned out a season-high six innings.

Brown faced the minimum over his first five frames and Asheville’s offense provided plenty of early run support. The Tourists matched their biggest inning of the season with six runs in the bottom of the second. Zach Daniels blasted a three-run Home Run to left; C.J. Stubbs hit a two-run shot to right center; and Will Wagner plated Quincy Hamilton with a sacrifice fly.

Hamilton scored again in the fourth inning when he stole third base and raced home on a throwing error; one of four Hickory miscues in the game. The Crawdads managed to plate a pair of runs in the top of the sixth; however, the Tourists offense struck again. A.J. Lee launched a solo Home Run in the sixth and Daniels delivered an RBI single in the seventh.

Cesar Gomez, the reigning SAL Pitcher of the Week, pitched the final three innings to earn his first save of the season. Defensively, the Tourists turned a season-high three double plays that helped stall a trio of Hickory rallies.

The Tourists can clinch a series victory with a win in either Saturday or Sunday’s contest. Asheville has won five of their last six and sport a 16-8 record over their last 24 games.

Tourists Game Recaps are presented by Jackson Electrical Contractors, Inc