Offense Sluggish in 5-1 Home Loss

ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists fell to the Greenville Drive Tuesday evening by a final score of 5-1. Asheville struck out 16 times, their most in a nine-inning contest this season, and could not overcome 16 Greenville hits in the series opener.

Tommy Sacco Jr. and Tim Borden II combined to record four of the Tourists five hits in the game. Sacco Jr. doubled twice while Borden II had a single, double, and walk in four trips to the plate. Both players added a stolen base. Asheville’s lone run came off an RBI groundout by Freudis Nova in the fifth inning.

The Drive plated two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth, and added one more in the sixth. Deylen Miley started for the Tourists and tossed three shutout innings before running into a bit of trouble. Ryan Gusto pitched the final four frames, struck out five, and limited the Drive to only one run. Gusto has allowed one run in his last eight innings pitched.

Greenville’s Wikelman Gonzalez was brilliant on the mound. The right-hander curveball had Tourists hitters in fits all night. Jordan DiVelerio and Maceo Campbell each pitched two scoreless innings out of the Drive bullpen.

The Tourists will attempt to rebound on Wednesday night with Game Two of the series scheduled for 6:35pm ET.