Pitching Staff K's 18 in Tourists Third Straight Road Win

WINSTON-SALEM- The Asheville Tourists won their third straight game in Winston-Salem on Friday night by a final score of 7-5. The pitching combination of Cole McDonald, Chayce McDermott, Jose Betances, and Palmer Wenzel struck out 18 Dash hitters and did enough to hold off Winston-Salem’s late comeback bid.

Asheville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when JC Correa singled home Cristian Gonzalez from second base. The Dash used an unearned run in the bottom of the second to tie the game and a solo Home Run in the third to take a 2-1 lead.

The Tourists responded in the top of the fourth when Chad Stevens hit a laser Home Run to left field which knotted the game up 2-2. Later in the fourth, Correa struck again; this time with a two-run single to right-centerfield. Luis Santana chipped in an RBI single and Asheville led 5-2 after four.

Correa drove in another run in the sixth inning and Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to give the Tourists their biggest lead of the game at 7-2. The Dash used an Asheville error and a trio of walks to rally for three runs in the eighth.

Wenzel came into the game in the ninth and struck out the side to notch his second save of the season. McDonald started the game and had seven strikeouts. McDermott earned the win in relief and struck out seven as well.

Asheville has now won 10 of 12 and will look to clinch the series with Game Five scheduled for 6:00pm ET on Saturday night.

Tourists Game Recaps are presented by Jackson Electrical Contractors, Inc