Only one series after the Asheville Tourists completed their first sweep of the season they found themselves on the wrong side of a sweep courtesy of the Augusta GreenJackets.
Sunday afternoon’s series finale was close throughout but in the end the GreenJackets outlasted the Tourists 2-1.
Asheville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Forrest Wall worked a lead-off walk and went to second on Wes Rogers’ single to right. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Robbie Perkins laced a single into left plating wall. Luis Jean tried to bunt Rogers in, but Wes was thrown out at home plate.
Augusta tied the game in the bottom of the third. The GreenJackets loaded the bases for Ryan Jones who singled in the tying run. With no outs, Asheville’s starting pitcher James Lomangino worked out of the jam. Lomangino induced a pop out to shallow right followed by an inning-ending double play.
In the fifth, the home team took advantage of the game’s lone error to jump in front. After back-to-back two out singles, Skyler Ewing hit a ground ball to Jean at short. Jean’s throw to second was wide allowing Augusta to load the bases. The next batter, Cristian Paulino, worked a walk to force in the eventual game-winning run.
Asheville had a few opportunities to tie the game. The Tourists put a runner at second base with one out in the fifth, sixth, and ninth innings but never could come up with a game-tying hit.
With the loss the Tourists have lost their last six road games. Asheville will look to bounce back against the Savannah Sand Gnats on Monday night at Historic Grayson Stadium.