The Asheville Tourists snapped a four-game losing skid on Tuesday night with a 4-2 victory over the Greenville Drive. Asheville used timely hitting, quality pitching, and solid defense to even up the series at 1-1.
In the top of the first, Pat Valaika cleared the left-centerfield wall to put the Tourists in front 1-0. The Home Run was Pat’s second of the season and came with two outs and the bases empty.
Asheville’s starter Johendi Jiminian struggled with his control and walked two in the bottom of the first. With a runner at third, Tim Roberson delivered an RBI groundout for the Drive and knotted the score at one apiece.
In the third inning, Max White led off with a double. David Dahl moved White over to third and Raimel Tapia hit a sacrifice fly to vault the Tourists back in front 2-1.
Jiminian again lost his control in the fifth as the Tourists starter walked the bases loaded with only one out. However, Jiminian was able to induce an inning-ending line out to end the threat. The next half inning, Ryan McMahon belted a two-run homer to right and the Tourists led 4-1 after six.
Greenville was able to put a run across in the seventh, but never threatened in the final two frames. The Tourists bullpen of Devin Burke, Matt Carasiti, Carlos Estevez, and Dylan Stamey worked the final four frames and combined with Jiminian allowed a season low five hits.
The series rubber match is set for 4:05pm Wednesday afternoon.
(Written by Doug Maurer at the Asheville Tourists.)