ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Asheville Tourists closed out a six-game home series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods with a 13-4 loss Sunday afternoon at McCormick Field, despite strong offensive performances from Joseph Sullivan and Cristian Gonzalez.
The Tourists (36-40) still stand alone in second place for the second half of the season, as the Hot Rods (40-33) claimed first place with the win.
Six runs for Bowling Green scored before Asheville jumped on the board in the third inning. Joseph Sullivan crushed his 14th homer of the year over the right-center scoreboard.
Also in the frame, Cristian Gonzalez tallied an RBI base hit. Asheville’s final run of the night came the next frame. The Tourists made it a 6-4 game with a sacrifice fly from Drew Brutcher, but the Hot Rods took over once again afterwards and never looked back.
Derek True (L, 2-3) returned to action after coming off the IL. He tossed in the first two and one-third innings, surrendering four runs (three earned).
Asheville will hit the road next week to play against the Greenville Drive for three games, before returning home to face the same opponent during the fourth of July weekend series. Tuesday’s first pitch is set for 6:45 p.m.
Saturday: Asheville evens series with power display
A big lead led to another victory for the Asheville Tourists as they hit four homers in a 7-4 victory over the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Saturday night at McCormick Field.
The Tourists (34-39) and Hot Rods (39-33) are tied for first place in the South Division of the South Atlantic League after tonight’s win.
Three solo homers leapfrogged Asheville ahead after three innings. Two came from Will Bush, and another from Alejandro Nunez.
Blowing the game open in the sixth frame, Kenni Gomez launched a three-run missile to right.
Toeing the rubber, Bryce Mayer dazzled in five scoreless frames as the starter. He struck out seven and allowed two hits as his only baserunners. In the ninth, Cody Tucker (Sv, 1) worked a one-two-three with a pair of strikeouts.
Asheville nabbed 10 hits to Bowling Green’s six. Lucas Spence and Chase Jaworsky added multi-hit nights to Bush’s.
Friday: Bello, bats lift Asheville to first win of series
Earning their first win of the series, the Asheville Tourists downed the Bowling Green Hot Rods 5-3 on Friday night at McCormick Field.
Backed by strong starting pitching, Tourists’ (33-39) Juan Bello (W, 3-5) went five innings of one-run ball with a handful of strikeouts.
Making his High-A debut, Ramsey David allowed three base runners in as many innings, but gave up two runs. Railin Perez (Sv, 2) finalized the ninth inning, facing four and striking out two.
Offensively, a three-run first put the Tourists ahead early, with RBI hits from Will Bush and Kenni Gomez in the inning. The Hot Rods (39-32) could never cut the deficit closer than two afterwards.
Alejandro Nunez notched a two-for-three game with a sacrifice RBI fly and a double. As a club, Asheville outhit Bowling Green eight to six.