The Asheville Tourists swept a double-header from the Greenville Drive on Sunday afternoon.
The Tourists needed extra-innings to win the first game 3-1 and a late run in game two broke a tie ballgame to give Asheville a 3-2 win. With the two victories, their road winning streak has now reached 15 consecutive games.
In the first game, Asheville plated a run in the top of the third. Raimel Tapia connected with a two-out RBI single to plate Wilfredo Rodriguez. Starting pitcher Johendi Jiminian cruised through the first six innings without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the seventh with Jiminian one out away from a complete game shutout, Franklin Guzman worked a two-out walk. Asheville’s skipper went to the bullpen and Matt Carasiti came in to face Aneudis Peralta. The Drive’s third-baseman hit a groundball to short but a Tourists error kept the inning alive. Two batters later, Cole Sturgeon hit an infield single to tie the game and send it to extras.
In the top of the ninth, Jose Briceno squared up a 0-2 pitch off Taylor Grover and blasted a two-run Home Run over the left field wall. Carasiti who was still in the game worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth to seal the win.
Game Two was a pitcher’s duel between Asheville Zach Jemiola and Greenville’s Jason Garcia. The Tourists received an RBI groundout by Ryan McMahon in the top of the first but Wendell Rijo tied the game with a solo Home Run in the bottom half. Asheville responded with an RBI single off the bat of Tapia in the second, but again Rijo tied the game; this time with a Home Run in the third.
The score remained 2-2 until the top of the seventh. With two outs and Ashley Graeter aboard at third base, the Tourists catcher raced home on a wild pitch to put the visitors in front. Trent Blank relieved Jemiola and worked a perfect bottom half for the save.
Asheville will try and complete a four game sweep over Greenville with the series finale set for Monday morning at 11:00am.
(Written by Doug Maurer / Asheville Tourists.)