Whitcomb and Arias Shine in Home Debut

ASHEVILLE- Two Asheville Tourists players made their home debut on Tuesday night, Shay Whitcomb and Bryan Arias. The duo combined to hit three Home Runs and drive in seven during Asheville’s 11-4 win over the Greenville Drive. Tyler Brown earned his third win of the season with a dominating performance on the mound.

Whitcomb was given a rousing ovation by the McCormick Field faithful as he was introduced while walking to the plate for his first at-bat. Shay delivered with a solo Home Run to left-centerfield to give the Tourists a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The stadium erupted and the stage was set.

In the second, Freudis Nova plated Enmanuel Valdez from second base with an RBI single to centerfield. Later in the inning, Nova trotted home on a double-play ball.

With the Tourists in front 3-0, Arias doubled the lead with one swing of the bat. Bryan crushed a three-run Homer over the right field wall in the bottom of the fourth. After base hits by Carlos Machado and Wilyer Abreu, Whitcomb hammered a three-run blast over the scoreboard in right-center. Asheville finished the inning with six runs and a 9-0 lead.

Brown kept the Drive hitters at bay all night. Asheville’s right-hander tossed a career-high six innings and struck out a career-high seven. Brown located his pitches from start to finish and did not walk a batter. Greenville plated only one run on four hits against the Tourists starter.

Mark Moclair pitched the final three innings for his second save of the season. Moclair was given some additional run support when Alex Holderbach launched a two-run Home Run down the right field line in the bottom of the eighth.

All nine players in Asheville’s lineup recorded at least one base hit while Nova finished with a team-high three. The same two teams are back at it on Wednesday with the first pitch set for 6:35pm ET.