Carlos Polanco was at his best on Saturday night. The Asheville Tourists’ starting pitcher went eight innings, allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out eight en route to his fourth win of the season.
Polanco’s effort aided Asheville in completing their fifth shutout win of the year. The Tourists ended up with a 4-0 victory.
It was evident Polanco had good stuff early on as the San Pedro de Macoris, D.R. native retired the first seven batters he faced. After surrendering a one-out single in the third to Ryan Leonards, Polanco sat down the next eight Intimidators. A walk to Leonards in the sixth snapped that stretch, but once again the right-hander went on to record eight consecutive outs.
The Tourists scored three of their four runs in the top of the second inning; all off Kannapolis’ starter Luis Martinez. Asheville was able to load the bases with no outs thanks to an error by Eddy Alvarez, a bunt single, and a walk. Martinez retired the next two Tourists and looked as if he was poised to escape the jam unscathed. Unfortunately for Martinez he completely lost control of the strike zone. The right-hander issued three straight bases-loaded walks.
In the top of the fourth, Forrest Wall and Shane Hoelscher clubbed back-to-back doubles with two outs giving the Tourists their fourth and final run. Asheville finished the game with six hits but worked a total of eight walks.
Shane Halley relieved Polanco in the ninth and worked around a two-out single for a scoreless frame. Wall was the only Tourist with a multi-hit game. The second baseman had a double, a single, two walks, a run scored, and three stolen bases.
(Article written by Doug Maurer of the Asheville Tourists.)