The Asheville Tourists recorded their first come-from-behind win of the season Thursday night, and they made it happen in dramatic fashion.
In front of a large crowd and playing in cold conditions, Asheville broke an 11th inning tie with the Greenville Drive and came away with a 5-4 victory.
Trailing 4-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Tourists rallied for three runs to tie the game. Both bullpens held strong until the Drive decided to put their first-baseman, Francisco Tellez, on the mound for the 11th. Forrest Wall singled with one out then went to second on a groundout. After Wall stole third and Wes Rogers walked, Emerson Jimenez lined the first pitch he saw into left field for a walk-off single.
Both starters threw well. Asheville’s Helmis Rodriguez lasted 5.2 innings and allowed just one run; a solo Home Run off the bat of Carlos Mesa in the top of the first. Greenville’s Jalen Beeks also went 5.2 innings but left with a runner at second base. Drew Weeks tripled in the run to tie the game 1-1.
The Drive plated three in the top of the seventh only to see their lead disappear in the eighth. Asheville’s Kevin Padlo drove a two-run double off the wall in center and Randy Reyes tied the score with w double to right-center plating Padlo.
Jimenez finished 3-for-6 while Weeks, Reyes, and Wes Rogers all contributed multi-hit performances. Josh Michalec worked two perfect innings in the ninth and tenth while Jerad McCrummen picked up his first win of the season with a scoreless top of the 11th.
The homestand continues on Friday with Asheville and Greenville set to take the field at 7:05pm.