Herrera’s Big Game Not Enough in Series Opener

Asheville dropped the first of a three-game set to the Augusta Green Jackets in front of a lively 3,487 fans at McCormick Field.

The game started slowly as both starting pitchers settled in early during the first two innings.

Asheville’s Peter Lambert recorded four strikeouts in the opening two frames while Augusta’s Cory Taylor put down five of the first six Tourist batters he faced. Augusta put up the first run of the night on a Johneshwy Fargas double over the head of Yonathan Daza. The third inning was an eventful one for the Tourists, as they scored two runs. Catcher Chris Rabago started of the third inning with a single into left field and was advanced by a Scotty Burcham sacrifice bunt. Carlos Herrera started off his big night in the third as well with an RBI single into center. Herrera ended the day 3-for-5 and made a couple of impressive plays defensively for the Tourists. Brian Mundell was able to capitalize on a single that bounced off of Taylor’s leg and made it into center field; scoring Herrera and putting the Tourists up 2-1.

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The GreenJacket’s third baseman, Dillion Dobson, started off fourth inning with a single that was hit right over second base. Dobson advanced to second on a Lambert balk, which put him in scoring position for Matt Winn. Augusta’s catcher hit a routine fly ball into left field, but the ball was lost in the sun by Tourists’ left fielder Mylz Jones. Dobson scored on the play, and Winn advanced to third base on a throwing error by Jones. Lambert worked himself out of the fourth inning jam by recording his fifth strikeout and inducing an infield pop out by Jean Angomas. Asheville did not take advantage a bases loaded opportunity in the fifth inning. Augusta then regained the lead in the sixth by the way of a Skyler Ewing solo Home Run.

Rookie Ben Bowden was called on in the seventh inning after a good performance by Lambert which consisted of six strikeouts, five hits, and three earned runs. Augusta exploited Bowden’s off night and logged two runs against the Vanderbilt product. Seth Harrison started the inning strong with a double into left field that Asheville’s Sam Hilliard almost gloved. The next batter, Fargas, singled into left and recorded his 20th RBI of the year. After a Lucius Fox walk, Jalen Miller singled into left to score Fargas. With the score 5-2, Bowden gave way to Hayden Jones who entered with two runners on base and no outs. Jones was able to work effectively and did not allow any further damage in the seventh inning.

Herrera continued his dominant performance with a solo Home Run in the seventh inning which pulled the Tourists within two runs. The next three batters went down in order. Caleb Smith came on for the GreenJackets in the eighth inning and shut the Tourists down 1-2-3. Javier Palacios came onto the bump for the Tourists in ninth inning and issued the bullpen’s sixth walk of the night. With Winn on base, Matt Pare hit a blast over the right field wall to make the score 7-3. Herrera was able to double off of the wall in right field in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough to rally a comeback.

(Written by Aury St. Germain of the Asheville Tourists.)